Category: Deutsche Bahn

German network overhaul at full steam; here are the latest updates

Amidst a wave of railway infrastructure renovations expected to occur in Germany in the coming weeks and months, more information surfaces regarding the closure and substitution of routes. As the German Federal Government underlined during a parliamentary discussion, the Hamburg-Berlin route is set to experience a nine-month closure in two sections between August 2025 and…

Shortlist for DB Schenker’s buyers to be ready next week

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has received the first confirmatory bids for the sale of its logistics arm DB Schenker. Some of the companies that presented an offer include DSV, Maersk and MSC. Morevoer, equity firms such as CVC Capital Partners and Carlyle Group confirmed their bid of around 14 billion euros. This new step comes after…

German rail companies start lawsuit after planned 16,2% TAC increase

Eleven German rail companies are going to court over an approved 16,2 per cent track-access charge (TAC) increase. The new TAC rate would go into force from mid-December, but the eleven companies are now aiming to prevent that from happening. The approved 16,2 per cent TAC increase would be a bigger jump than all increases…

DB begins 1.6 billion euro expansion of Hanau-Gelnhausen line

In a bid to fortify the rail system in Hesse, Deutsche Bahn (DB) has embarked on a 1.6 billion euro project to expand the 23-kilometre-long Hanau–Gelnhausen line to four tracks. The initiative, aimed at enhancing both passenger and freight transportation, received its official commencement during an on-site gathering in Gelnhausen on Monday. The expansion, a…

DB completes six-track-bundle upgrade in Basel

The line between Basel and Karlsruhe is one of the main bottlenecks for rail freight along the Rhine-Alpine Corridor. Now, some improvements are expected as the track expansion at the Basel-Weil am Rhein was commissioned by Deutsche Bahn (DB) on 29 April 2024. In total, a bundle of six new tracks was built parallel to…

Deutsche Bahn does not rule out DB Cargo sale

Deutsche Bahn (DB) does not rule out the sale of its freight subsidiary DB Cargo. Looming EU sanctions over excessive state support are forcing DB to find an escape route. A partial sale of financially underperforming DB Cargo might be on the table. According to Handelsblatt, DB does not rule out a sale of its…

DAC: Digital Automatic Coupling or Digital Age Conundrum?

Currently, the common denominator concerning the implementation of the Digital Automatic Coupling (DAC) in Europe seems to be confusion. A third DAC consortium, renamed DACFIT, was just formed by Deutsche Bahn (DB), which also plays a key role in the other two. However, a clear timetable is not yet available despite the EU envisioning a…

German Passau corridor closes for renovation, diversions seem unviable

As Germany is planning for much-needed rail infrastructure renovations, points of contention arise. While renovations are necessary for the outdated network, significant infrastructure downtime could lead to serious consequences for the rail freight industry. Especially the Passau corridor closure is causing sweaty palms. Germany is planning to renew its rail infrastructure network. In an interview…