First Project for the Renewal of Munich’s S-Bahn Network
A historic milestone for GCF which, together with two other companies of its Group, officially enters the German market after being awarded its first contract in Germany, worth around €20 million, by Deutsche Bahn. In Munich, in the heart of Bavaria, GCF S.p.A., together with its specialist subsidiaries GCF Elettriche and GCF Power, will take part in the technological upgrade of the complex München-Westkreuz rail node, specifically carrying out the relocation of electrical power supply installations within the heavily trafficked station area.
The project, commissioned by DB InfraGO AG – the infrastructure division of the German railways – forms an integral part of the “NeM 13” Complementary Network Measure, an ambitious strategic plan aimed at enhancing Munich’s suburban rail network in preparation for the commissioning of the second S-Bahn main line.
Giuseppe Brecciaroli, CEO of Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie S.p.A., said:This achievement represents a major success for GCF and the companies of our Group. The German market, which is experiencing strong growth, is characterised by substantial investments in the modernisation and enhancement of the national railway network. Establishing ourselves in this environment, moreover as an industrial Group made up of coordinated and complementary companies, means seeing our expertise, know-how and the added value we can offer as a synergistic team of specialists recognised. This is a source of great pride and satisfaction.
The S-Bahn Enhancement Project
To address several critical issues affecting the München-Westkreuz suburban junction, Deutsche Bahn launched in 2024, alongside the project for the construction of a second “Stammstrecke” – a central tunnel corridor running parallel and independently from the existing one – a series of substantial “satellite” interventions aimed at removing bottlenecks outside Munich’s city centre.
The works include a range of measures designed to improve traffic flow in the suburban area: the elimination of level crossings between routes, the separation of S-Bahn lines, related road infrastructure works (underpasses and pedestrian/cycle paths) and, for the railway infrastructure itself, the construction of new railway bridges, new tracks, new turnouts and new power supply lines.
The Specific Features of the GCF Project
As far as GCF and the Group’s specialist companies – GCF Elettriche and GCF Power – are concerned, the core of the project consists of the complete renovation and adaptation of the 110kV high voltage power line and the overhead contact line installations.
The worksite area – the München-Westkreuz junction – is a crucial hub where three major railway lines currently intersect, carrying intense passenger and freight traffic. For this reason, the GCF intervention understandably presents significant logistical challenges, given the highly urbanised environment, as well as several technical peculiarities. Among them is the supply and installation of combined masts, special structures designed to simultaneously support both the 15 kV catenary system and the 110 kV high-voltage line, requiring complex structural calculations and specific authorisations.
Among the most challenging aspects of the project is the need to guarantee the full operation of the network during the works. To allow the relocation of pylons without interrupting power supply, sophisticated temporary bypass solutions and temporary anchoring systems will be implemented.
Particular attention is being paid to environmental sustainability: operating within a sensitive context, the worksite has adopted strict measures for soil and water protection as well as continuous noise monitoring to minimise disturbance to nearby residential areas.
Finally, the works must be closely coordinated with other contractors simultaneously engaged in civil engineering and track renewal activities, requiring proactive and cooperative logistical management.
The first activities are scheduled to begin in early June and will develop over a multi-year period concluding in 2030.
Project Objectives
The München-Westkreuz project aims to achieve significant structural improvements: increased capacity, enabling the introduction of new S-Bahn Express services and a 15-minute service frequency; improved punctuality through the elimination of train conflicts and the reduction of delay propagation effects; and enhanced reliability of the western junction for the entire S-Bahn network.
Overall, with the commissioning of the second Stammstrecke, scheduled for 2035, Deutsche Bahn, the City of Munich, the Free State of Bavaria and the Federal Government aim to make the S-Bahn more efficient, reliable and attractive, while shifting a greater share of traffic onto a modern and environmentally sustainable railway network.
This is an objective that the companies of the GCF Group are proud to share, leveraging the expertise developed over the years and their recognised ability to manage complex railway infrastructures in international contexts, contributing to the creation of efficient and functional urban mobility systems.
This article was originally published by GCF.
