On Monday, 15 July, DB InfraGO is starting renovation works on the Riedbahn line between Frankfurt and Mannheim. The near half-year closure is a thorn in the side of rail freight operators, who will need to find scarce diversion routes. Rail freight association Die Güterbahnen is now keeping a close eye on the construction works through an online monitoring platform.
The platform, called Riedbahn Live Ticker, is supposed to keep track of construction progress, operational processes and problems, but also positive developments. Die Güterbahnen will update the platform with information provided by market players. Die Güterbahnen also says that it plans to use the monitoring platform for future renovations as well. The Riedbahn closure is only the first of approximately 40 planned renovations in the coming years in Germany.
Through monitoring construction progress, the rail association seems to be taking on the role of a watchdog. Even if the Riedbahn monitor’s homepage says “trust is good, control is better”, it seems that there is no trust in DB InfraGO to prevent harm to the rail freight sector. Die Güterbahnen is living up to the catchphrase by mobilising rail freight operators to collectively keep an eye on DB InfraGO’s work.
The Riedbahn Live Ticker will make information on cancelled trains, timetable changes and other operational issues accessible in real time.
Open communication on Riedbahn progress
“First and foremost, we hope that the closure goes smoothly. But if things go wrong, we want to make sure that the causes are not ignored, but are communicated openly with us and the companies affected,” says Neele Wesseln, managing director of Die Güterbahnen.
“The concept is fragile. Unforeseen incidents could have an impact on supply chains across Germany. The challenges are huge for the companies, who have to cope with additional costs and keep their customers happy. Additional irregularities are pure poison.”
“We want to focus on rail freight transport, which is too often neglected, and provide our members and the public with communication support. Of course, we also hope to build an appropriate database for the next 40 closures from which all parties can learn,” the association says.
Reverse modal shift
The planned renovations, while considered necessary, are a thorn in the side of rail undertakings. DB InfraGO itself acknowledged that diversions are scarce: “Due to the already large number of route allocations on the Ludwigsbahn (via Worms) and Main-Neckar-Bahn (via Darmstadt – Heidelberg), only very few route capacities will be available on the abovementioned routes during the general renovation of the Riedbahn from July 15th to December 14th, 2024.”
While slots are still available on the Moselle route and the non-electrified Alsenztalbahn, the infrastructure manager calls upon rail freight operators who do not need their reserved slots to cancel them early. “This increases the probability of being able to meet expected train path requests within the framework of freight traffic during the year.”
Regardless, Die Güterbahnen earlier expressed its fear that the many planned renovations and scarce diversion routes could cause a reverse modal shift. “Such a reverse modal shift may not be temporary, limited to the duration of construction works. Instead, already struggling rail operators might lose out to the road permanently, as has already been happening in other countries”, the association said in April.