DSD: More than one billion euros extra
In December, Federal Transport Minister Dr Volker Wissing and DB Infrastructure Board Member Berthold Huber signed an agreement that provides more money for the Digital Rail Germany programme. An existing funding agreement will be increased from around €1.7 billion to around €2.7 billion. DB has also received a commitment from the federal government to continue funding the planning of several projects from the so-called starter package.
In the long term, all lines and rail nodes are to be equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) and digital interlockings and the old technology is to be completely replaced. This will completely reorganise operations on the rail network in the future and create up to 35 percent more capacity.
The funds that have now been made available will be used, among other things, to modernise and digitalise the infrastructure on the Rhine-Alpine freight corridor. This magistral from the Dutch North Sea ports to Italy is to be equipped with ERTMS. In addition, DB can initiate further planning for the Scandinavia-Mediterranean corridor with around EUR 307 million. The European corridor between Denmark and Austria, which is also important for freight transport, is to be fully equipped with ETCS on a total of 4,500 line kilometres by the end of 2030.
Another 83 million euros have been earmarked for the planning of the third building block for the Digital Node Stuttgart (DKS). By 2030, train operations in the Stuttgart region will also be controlled by digital technology beyond the end points of the S-Bahn lines. Together with Stuttgart 21, the core of the node will go into operation with ETCS without signals as early as 2025.
Around eleven million euros in planning funds have been earmarked for the Cologne-Frankfurt/Main high-speed line. By 2028, DB wants to equip around 200 kilometres of track here with ETCS and digital interlockings. This step is intended to ensure more quality and efficiency in train operations, while at the same time allowing failure-prone systems and older interlockings to be completely replaced. (jsh)