Germany’s railway network is in urgent need of repair, and Deutsche Bahn has long presented its ambitious “general renovation” plan as the answer.
Around 40 of the country’s most important routes are to be comprehensively upgraded to fix decades of underinvestment and reduce delays.
The concept originally included a central pledge: once a line was completely closed and rebuilt, it would remain construction-free for eight to ten years.
This was later scaled back to five years. But according to information obtained by dpa, even this target will not be met.
Closures despite “renovated” lines
Internal planning documents show that Deutsche Bahn is already preparing new closures on freshly renovated tracks.
One major reason lies in signaling and safety technology.
While electronic interlocking systems are supposed to go into operation immediately after renovations, in practice their implementation is being delayed.
This means further partial or full closures—sometimes weeks after the official reopening.
In some cases, additional work unrelated to the core renovation has been scheduled.
This includes vegetation clearance, ongoing maintenance, or connecting new construction projects to recently modernized sections.
A DB spokesperson confirmed: “Regular maintenance and vegetation management are necessary. At the same time, closures may be required to integrate expansion projects adjacent to renovated sections.”
Renovations take longer than promised
Even the timeline for individual projects is slipping. Originally, each renovation was expected to last around six months. In reality, projects like the Hamburg–Berlin line are taking up to nine months.
While the program was initially planned to be completed by 2031, the latest projections show the last renovation will not be finished before 2036.
Passenger frustration and industry impact
The rolling construction is frustrating for both passengers and the rail freight industry. Travelers face repeated timetable changes and detours, undermining confidence in the promise of reliability.
Freight operators complain about limited capacity on alternative routes, which are often already congested.
A rescue plan for a failing network
Despite the setbacks, Deutsche Bahn insists the general renovation strategy is the only viable way to overhaul its aging, unreliable network, which has been a key driver of chronic delays in German long-distance traffic.
By targeting high-priority corridors, the company hopes to create at least some stable sections of rail that can handle increasing passenger and freight demand.
But with the goalposts shifting from “ten years without closures” to “five years” and now to repeated interruptions, doubts are growing as to whether the strategy can deliver the “fresh start” for German rail that was once promised.
