According to the media, the route network including bridges, tunnels, tracks, level crossings, signal boxes and overhead lines is rated on a grading system from 1.0 to 5.99 – the railway gives itself an overall grade of 2.93. The average score for the tracks is 3.07, for the switches 3.15 and for the signal boxes 3.59.
As the railways continue to list according to “SZ”, WDR and NDR, 26 percent of all switches are currently in poor, defective or insufficient condition, as are eleven percent of all bridges, 22 percent of the overhead lines, 23 percent of the tracks, 42 percent of all level crossings and 48 percent of all interlockings.
“Some parts of the German rail network are too old, too prone to disruption and offer too little capacity,” the media quoted the head of Netz AG, Philipp Nagl, as saying in the report to the supervisory board. In addition, there would be many construction sites “especially on the heavily used corridors”.
The assessment reveals the “underfunding of the rail network,” the report goes on to say. Previous investments are not sufficient and a quick and comprehensive general renovation is therefore necessary. Netzchef Nagl puts the backlog at around 89 billion euros.
According to the media, the Federal Ministry of Transport announced on request that the network status report was known. By 2029, the federal government will give Deutsche Bahn a total of 86 billion euros for the renovation and maintenance of the network. The money demanded in the report is only basic needs, the media reported. Significantly more need for modernization is expected in railway districts and the federal states.
