Railways commemorate the reintroduction of the transportation vehicles.
The repair works on the Riedbahn, a significant rail route linking Frankfurt and Mannheim, spanned over five months. Currently, trains are gradually resuming their service, with the billion-euro project marking a first in terms of a complete closure of such an important route for such a prolonged period.
During the construction phase, alternative transport solutions were put in place. Local commuters were bused to their destinations, while long-distance and cargo traffic was redirected. Once the renovations are completed, trains will resume operation starting from this weekend. The overall cost of the project stands at 1.3 billion euros.
In the near future, numerous other heavily trafficked routes will undergo substantial upgrades, involving similar full closures. The successful completion of this pilot project will be closely observed this weekend. Notable figures, including the railway's chief, Richard Lutz, and Transport Minister, Volker Wissing, will be in attendance for the inauguration ceremony on Saturday.
The initial train to commence service on the track, as per schedule, starting from Sunday night, will be a freight train, as per Deutsche Bahn. While long-distance traffic is anticipated to operate without restrictions from Sunday, alterations to schedules in freight and regional traffic are expected, particularly on the southern portion of the route.
The RB 62 regional trains between Worms and Biblis, and RB 63 between Worms and Bensheim, will recommence service only on December 24. Substitute bus services will persist until then. The S8 and S9 S-Bahn lines between Biblis and Mannheim, and Groß-Rohrheim and Mannheim, will not resume service until January 13.
Initially, freight trains will operate only during the night, with the number of trains gradually increasing until December 23. In total, approximately 95% of the usual passengers will be able to utilize long-distance and regional services from December 15. "From January 13, 2025, all trains will be running according to the regular timetable."
The 70-kilometer-long Riedbahn, named after the Hessian Ried it transverses, is one of the most crucial long-distance arteries in the German rail network. Around 360 trains traverse this section daily, according to the railway. Delays here frequently impact the national rail network.
Over the past few months, the railway has extendedly renovated the Riedbahn. Construction firms have replaced in total 111 kilometers of track, 152 switches, 619 signals, 15 kilometers of noise barriers, 130 kilometers of overhead lines, 383 overhead line masts, and 8 platforms. In addition, 20 stations along the route have undergone renovations. Several bridges have also been restored or completely rebuilt.
Furthermore, the track has been equipped with the electronic train control system ETCS, which will be gradually introduced in the following years. The entire construction work has now been completed.
The comprehensive renovation was announced in May 2022, with the aim of repairing the severely dilapidated rail network and improving the deteriorating punctuality statistics of the railway. The substitute traffic for regional trains using 150 buses ran smoothly, and the rerouting for long-distance and freight traffic also functioned well. Even the railway competitors in freight traffic cited little cause for complaint regarding the proceedings.
However, the Riedbahn does not maintain punctuality for all traffic entering railway operation, according to the Association of Freight Railways. Despite the high pressure under which the project was executed, it failed to meet the deadline. Despite delays, if the extensively upgraded facilities function smoothly by January 13, the modernization will still be considered successful.
The railway has also reduced one of its goals: Instead of ten years, the track will now remain untouched by major construction work for at least five years. The railway promises: "After the comprehensive renovation, no major construction work will be required on the Riedbahn for at least five years."
The rail corporation is optimistic that the renovations will significantly reduce disruptions due to infrastructure on one of Germany's most heavily trafficked routes. Through these renovations, disturbances due to the infrastructure on this route should be reduced by up to 80%. However, it remains to be seen whether passengers will immediately perceive this improvement.
Following the completion of the Riedbahn modernization, Germany's longest route between Hamburg and Berlin will undergo renovations, posing a greater challenge due to its length and complexity. The construction work will last for approximately nine months, from August 2025 to April 2026, resulting in the closure of the connection. Long-distance traffic will be rerouted via Stendal and Uelzen, among other places. The travel time between Hamburg and Berlin will be extended by at least 45 minutes. Freight trains will also need to bypass the route extensively. In regional traffic, the railway will rely on substitute bus services.
In the forthcoming years, more passageways are set to appear. These include the Hagen-Wuppertal-Cologne pathway, the suitable Rhine route between Troisdorf, Koblenz, and Wiesbaden, Obertraubling-Passau, and Frankfurt-Heidelberg route.
After the success of the Riedbahn modernization, Transport Minister Volker Wissing and the railway's chief, Richard Lutz, will be in attendance during the inauguration ceremony on Saturday. Following the completion of the project, similar upgrades will be implemented on other heavily trafficked routes, closely observed by notable figures in the industry.
