Renovation work begins on Germany’s high-speed rail network
02 October 2024
German state railway Deutsche Bahn is set to close a large section of its ICE high-speed rail line for several weeks to carry out extensive renovation work.
The ICE line renovation project is the first of many to come between now and 2030, says Deutsche Bahan. Image courtesy Deutsche Bahn
At a cost of approximately €90 million ($100 million), the modernisation project will see 35km of rails replaced between Hamm and Ahlen, in the Ruhr region of northern Germany, along with the replacement of two bridges.
A significant proportion of the project will revolve around a 650-tonne track reconstruction train, which can replace rails, sleepers and ballast in a single pass.
Work on the track is set to begin on October 11, with disruption – including the rerouting of long-distance trains – expected to continue until November 29.
The project is part of a wider Deutsche Bahn initiative to tackle a long-standing infrastructure maintenance backlog, with large-scale renovation projects planned across the country in the coming years.
By 2030, the company says it wants to renew as many as 40 major sections of the rail network.
