Railway-construction site - Start of general renovation - Riedbahn to be closed soon
In a few days, between Frankfurt and Mannheim, the most significant construction project for the German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) and its passengers begins. Forty tracks will be comprehensively modernized by 2030, improving the reliability of the recently delay-prone train service long-term.
To kick off the project, the so-called Riedbahn between Frankfurt and Mannheim will be fully closed and sanitized for five months, with four times the usual construction volume. There was at least one disruption on this section daily, causing restrictions for train traffic. These issues often affect the nationwide long-distance rail service, leading to delays in Hamburg or Stuttgart, necessitating improvement. accordingly, high expectations surround the Riedbahn sanitation specifically and the general sanitations in general.
What is a General Sanitation?
The railway infrastructure has been neglected for decades and is outdated and overloaded in many places. The Federal Government and the Railways have therefore decided, in the past year, to strengthen the network with billions of euros. The main lines will not be improved like usual "under the rolling wheel," meaning during ongoing operation, but instead during extended full closures. Afterward, construction-free periods must last for several years.
For the Riedbahn, this means: The line is out of service from July 15 to the timetable change in mid-December. During this time, the railway aims to replace everything that needs to be replaced and also digitize the line.
Similar approaches will be taken for dozens of other corridors. The next one is expected to be the section between Hamburg and Berlin, starting in August 2025. The initially announced closure time of roughly half a year per general sanitation cannot be maintained at this location. The line will be closed from July 2025 to April 2026, a total of nine months.
What are the consequences for long-distance rail travel?
The Riedbahn is one of the most important railway connections in Germany. More than 300 trains run daily on it in regional, long-distance, and freight traffic, according to the railway. "Approximately every seventh long-distance train journey of the DB runs over the tracks between Frankfurt/Main and Mannheim. That's about 60,000 long-distance passengers per day." In regional traffic, there are 16,000 passengers daily. The railway line is also crucial for freight transport, as three of the eleven trans-European freight transport corridors are connected to it.
During the closure, approximately two-thirds of the ICE and IC trains west and east of the Riedbahn will be rerouted via Mainz and Worms (Ludwigsbahn) or via Darmstadt and Heidelberg (Main-Neckar-Bahn) to Mannheim. For passengers, this means an additional 30-minute travel time. The remaining one-third of the trains either cancel or serve other destinations.
What is the Regional Train?
In the regional train sector, all trains will cease operation. Passengers will have to switch to replacement buses. The railway has purchased 150 articulated and overland buses for this purpose. All vehicles are equipped with toilets, WLAN, and USB charging stations. Additionally, 400 bus drivers and bus driveresses have been hired. In total, there are 13 bus lines, each running in a 30-minute interval. Since the lines intersect, a bus is available on all sections at least every 15 minutes, and on some sections every five minutes.
From a trouble-free operation of the substitute traffic, the acceptance of people on site for the construction project depends. During a general trial run at the beginning of the year, some things still didn't run smoothly. The railway has promised improvements in this regard, such as bus driver training at this location.
What is being done during the Riedbahn renovation?
According to railway reports, 140 kilometers of overhead lines, 150 switches, 265,000 sleepers, and 120 kilometers of tracks will be built. In addition, new signaling and interlocking technology will be installed. Along the route, 20 railway stations are to be modernized. All of this is supposed to cost 1.3 billion Euros according to the latest information - significantly more than initially assumed.
Does the railway run on time after that?
At least that's the hope of the railway. With the renovations, the aging rail network in Germany is supposed to become more load-bearing and fault-free over time. However, the disruptions initially pose a further test of patience for train passengers and other railway customers.
Above all, there is still great skepticism among competitors in freight transport. They fear, among other things, that not all necessary construction work can be carried out due to the tight schedules. These could also not be caught up later because construction is not allowed on the tracks for several years. The Freight Railways Association also expressed doubts about the routing concepts. Freight trains have to travel detours of hundreds of kilometers during the disruptions.
Is there anything besides general renovations at the railway now?
No, construction is also continuing beyond that. Given the poor condition of the entire rail network, this is also necessary. Some construction work cannot be postponed until a general renovation on the corresponding section is underway. For example, significant restrictions for train passengers are planned this year on the Hamburg - Berlin route.
- The general refurbishment of the Riedbahn between Frankfurt and Mannheim is being overseen by German Railways (Deutsche Bahn).
- This extensive project will involve a full locking and sanitization of the Riedbahn for five months, with significant construction volume.
- The General refurbishment of the railway infrastructure in Germany is a collaborative effort between the Federal Government and German Railways, aiming to strengthen the network using billions of euros.
- The city of Stuttgart, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, is also expected to undergo a general refurbishment of its railway lines in the future.
- During the renovation of the Riedbahn, high expectations are placed on the full locking and digitization of the line, aiming to improve reliability and reduce delays.
- Consumers of long-distance rail travel in Frankfurt and Mannheim should prepare for potential disruptions and additional travel time, as the Riedbahn undergoes its comprehensive refurbishment.
- Berlin, Germany's capital, is set to undergo a general refurbishment on its railway lines starting in August 2025, with a longer closure time compared to the Riedbahn.
- Aside from the general refurbishments, ongoing construction work is also being carried out on various other sections of the railway network in Germany, aiming to improve the overall condition of the rail network nationwide.
