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Rail network: only around 20 kilometers new overhead lines 2024
The electrification of railway lines has recently hardly progressed. But there are points that speak for an accelerated expansion in the coming years.
Due to the lack of overhead lines, more than a third of the railway lines in Germany can still only be accessed with diesel locomotives. Last year, only around 20 kilometers of electrified railways were added, as the Allianz Interest Association Pro Schiene and the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) determined. For the current year, the two organizations expect around 45 kilometers.
With this, the expansion pace remains significantly behind the requirements, they said. The proportion of electrified routes in Germany is currently around 62 percent. Because particularly busy routes usually have overhead line, the proportion of rail transport that is powered is significantly higher at 90 percent.
Allianz demands that the German rail network will be 80 percent equipped with overhead lines by 2035. To do this, almost 600 kilometers would have to be electrified every year. “So far, only 75 kilometers of overhead lines have been built in the state rail network per year,” said the Managing Director of Allianz Pro Schiene, Dirk Flege.
Some things speak for accelerated expansion
However, according to the two associations, there are some points that speak for a significantly faster expansion in the next few years. On the one hand, the designated new federal government seems to have at least recognized the topic. The coalition agreement does not name any specific expansion goals for overhead lines. However, the so-called cost-benefit ratio should be eliminated in the future.
So it no longer has to be proven with every electrification project that it makes sense. From the alliance per rail’s point of view, corresponding expansion projects could be significantly accelerated in this way.
There was also good news as far as the financing is concerned: According to the coalition agreement, the electrification will in future be financed from the government that is equipped with significantly more funds. With these two measures, it is realistic to expand eight times faster than before, emphasized Flege.
Electrification also important for military transports
The two associations are also certain due to the staff of the construction industry. “The companies work together in the training of overhead line fitters, more skilled workers are being set.”
The decisive factor is the electrification of rail connections to the neighboring European countries – especially with a view to the increasing importance of military transports on the rail. “There has been far too little for years. A total of only 28 out of 57 border crossings are equipped with overhead lines, especially at the borders to Poland and the Czech Republic, there are enormous need to catch up,” said Flege.
dpa
Source: Stern
