Germany's Sluggish Progress Towards Electrifying Rail Networks
New Rail Lines: Projected Installation of Approximately 20 Kilometers of Overhead Wiring by 2024 - New overhead lines expansion: approximately 20 kilometers to be constructed by 2024, according to plans
Get ready to rev up those diesel locomotives, 'cause the pace of electrifying Germany's rail tracks is moving slower than a snail on a hot day. As of now, more than one-third of the tracks are stuck in the past, accessible only by good ol' diesel engines.
Last year, a paltry 20 kilometers of new electrified tracks were added, according to the Alliance pro Schiene and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV). But don't expect a speed boost any time soon; they're forecasting just 45 kilometers of new tracks this year — not exactly the pace we need to catch up, folks.
With a current electrified share of around 62 percent, there's still a long way to go. The good news? Heavily-used tracks typically boast overhead lines, meaning a whopping 90 percent of rail traffic in Germany is powered electrically.
But don't coast too comfortably — the Alliance is pushing for an 80 percent electrification rate by 2035. To hit that mark, around 600 kilometers of tracks would need to be electrified each year. Dirk Flege, the CEO of Alliance pro Schiene, chimed in, stating that the current pace falls far short of the requirement.
There's a silver lining, though. The incoming federal government seems to acknowledge the issue, even if it's not explicitly specified in the coalition agreement. Plus, they've scrapped the pesky cost-benefit ratio, making it easier to greenlight electrification projects (yeehaw!). Flege believes these measures could catapult electrification projects forward by a factor of eight.
But there's more to this saga than meets the eye. With military transports by rail on the rise, electrifying connections to European neighbors is a top priority. Although, sadly, only 28 of 57 border crossings are electrified at the moment, particularly at Poland and the Czech Republic's borders.
Overhead line installers won't be in short supply, thanks to companies teaming up to train more personnel. So, let's electrify this rail network and ride off into the sunset in style!
Fun Facts:
- Did you know? The new German government has pledged to invest a whopping 500 billion Euros in rail infrastructure, including electrification of rail lines.
- Hungry for more? Deutsche Bahn has expressed interest in accessing a significant portion of this fund for its projects.
- Fact-filled Friday: Battery-electric trains like the 19 FLIRT Akku trains ordered for Thuringia are an interim solution for partially non-electrified lines, with the ability to run up to 80 kilometers without overhead wires.
- Overhead line
- Transport
- Germany
- Railway track
- Dirk Flege
- Diesel locomotive
- Berlin
- Coalition agreement
- Alliance SE
- Association of German Transport Companies
- Electrification
- To meet the Alliance's target of an 80% electrification rate by 2035, roughly 600 kilometers of railway tracks should be electrified annually, according to Dirk Flege, the CEO of Alliance pro Schiene.
- Despite the sluggish progress in electrifying Germany's rail network, the incoming federal government has shown a promising commitment to the cause by investing a significant amount towards rail infrastructure and scrapping the cost-benefit ratio.
- The Alliance pro Schiene and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) reported that, last year, only 20 kilometers of new electrified railway tracks were added and are forecasting just 45 kilometers this year.
- Currently, around 62% of Germany's railway tracks are electrified, but a considerable portion, more than one-third, are still dependent on diesel locomotives.
- To strengthen connections with European neighbors, particularly Poland and the Czech Republic, electrifying border crossings is a vital priority, as only 28 of 57 border crossings are currently electrified.
