Disruption on Berlin-Hamburg rail line: Massive Suspension LASTING NINE MONTHS Ahead
Fresh Take:
Get ready for a six-month headache, Berlin-Hamburg railway riders! Starting August 1st, you'll be faced with a nine-month shutdown of the 280km stretch along this bustling route. About 50,000 daily commuters will feel the pinch. Travel times could triple, and for many, only replacement buses will be your ticket to ride.
Questions were raised earlier about securing contractors for all construction sites, but the German railway company, DB, has managed to line up companies for the final section between Hamburg-Rothenburgsort and Büchen – a feat they couldn't achieve initially.
The good news? No new signaling technology will add to the budget, which has already ballooned from 1.7 to 2.2 billion euros. The bad news? Only 67 kilometers worth of the route will be equipped with the European train safety system ETCS, with the remaining section being renovated without this technology.
During the renovation phase, DB will be giving more than 180 kilometers of tracks and over 200 switches on Germany's most used city connection a facelift. Six new crossover points will be added for more flexibility, enabling additional overtaking opportunities for slower trains.
The goods train industry, however, isn't pleased. Peter Westenberger, the managing director, believes commercial damages in millions will be caused by the closure and demands a justification for it. The rerouting of goods between Hamburg harbor and the Czech Republic via Cologne and the Rhine will see trucks traveling hundreds of kilometers for four months.
With no clear concept for managing disruptions on diversion routes, the industry is left in the lurch. Numerous requests for clarification from DB Infrago have reportedly fallen on deaf ears, leaving the Ministry of Transport to step in. The new government must avoid blind trust in DB's renovation plans, argues Westenberger.
Extended maintenance, not general renovation, is on the cards for the line, ruled a railway construction company's construction manager. The lack of capacity with the signal technology supplier has resulted in a scaled-back program for signal equipment, track connections, and sidings. The upgrade is now scheduled for 2035.
The high risk involved in such large-scale projects is reflected in the prices offered by construction companies, which are significantly higher than usual. The rushed planning and construction preparations are to blame, according to the expert. The lack of experience with such projects and a shortage of qualified personnel and structures are major obstacles in realizing the project.
Long-term planning certainty is the key to resolving these issues, argues the expert. However, with the railway company issuing more tenders than can be handled by the construction industry, effective competition remains a challenge.
- In light of the upcoming railway closure, the finance industry might experience a surge in loans for trucking companies due to the extended transportation of goods, as trucks will be rerouted to avoid the shutdown.
- Amidst the upgrades in the railway industry, the goods train industry is concerned about the potential impact of the nine-month shutdown, with some prediction of commercial damages in millions due to extended travel times and rerouting of goods.
