German rail network to be given €86bn upgrade

The German government has approved a spending plan where €86-billion will be invested in the upgrade of the country's Deutsche Bahn rail network.

Andreas Scheuer said the project was "the biggest railway modernisation programme" in German history. 

Operated and managed by national rail company Deutsche Bahn, the 33,000 km (20,500 miles) network has been plagued with delays and breakdowns in recent years, as well as suffering from problems associated with overused tracks and dilapidated bridges. As a result of these issues, the federal government has agreed to the 54% increase in spending from the original five-year plan.

In the southern state of Bavaria, Bauer was commissioned to look into remediation work on several embankments, to pave the way for the reintroduction of tilting technology, which had been banned since 2016 as a result of poor track conditions.

Herr Scheuer said that €62-billion would be invested into the project by the government, with a further €24.2-billion coming from Deutsche Bahn.

Under the project, 2,000 bridges will be renovated, with the ultimate goal being to see a doubling of current passenger numbers by 2030.

“We will replace outdated facilities, ensure accessibility, improve construction management and the condition of railway bridges,” said Scheuer.

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