Deutsche Bahn has continued its rail infrastructure construction and modernisation efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.
Between February and May DB constructed more than 850km of track and replaced 675 points and 600,000 tons of ballast. Modernisation works are under way at more than 330 stations. Overall, DB invested around 20 percent more by the end of April than compared to the same period the previous year.
Ronald Pofalla, Head of Infrastructure at DB, said:We stand firmly by our investment strategy and we're on track! In these times our construction efforts are an organised economic stimulus for the German economy. We've got through our construction schedule well and in a stable manner over the past few weeks and we're doing everything we can to make sure it stays that way.
Deutsche Bahn set up a construction task force (Task Force Bauen) at the start of the crisis. Its purpose has been to make sure the construction programme can be implemented despite the current pandemic-related restrictions. Less than 1 percent of the 13,000 construction projects have had to be cancelled or delayed this year. Deutsche Bahn reached an agreement with the construction industry association Zentralverband Deutsches Baugewerbe (ZDB) to allow construction efforts to continue during the difficult market conditions.
Overall, DB is investing 12 billion euros in the modernisation of the railway network, stations, and energy facilities. The current focus is on the following construction sites:
- the overhaul of the high-speed line between Stuttgart and Mannheim: 190km of track, 54 points and the control command and signalling technology
Works on the Stuttgart-Mannheim high-speed line© Deutsche Bahn | Jürgen Quentel - Munich: 60m (depth) pits are being dug for the 2nd S-Bahn line at the central station
Munich S-Bahn trench© Deutsche Bahn | Uwe Geburzyk - Dresden-Berlin railway line: works in southern Berlin for faster services to Dresden and Brandenburg
Berlin-Dresden railway line works© Deutsche Bahn AG | Ralf Burmeister - Donauwörth and Koblenz-Trier: DB is setting up the next new digital signal boxes in these locations
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