Germany cuts corridor renewals to 13 by 2031 and makes ETCS the standard

Germany's Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) and infrastructure manager DB InfraGO presented a five-point plan for its "Korridorsanierungen" on 9 October 2026. These are complete renewals of heavily used lines, carried out during closures lasting several months. Only 13 corridors will now be renewed between 2027 and 2031, down from the 21 previously planned, and ETCS Level 2 without lineside signals becomes the standard from the early 2030s (BMV and DB press release).

A five-point plan

1. Prioritise: 13 renewals instead of 21 in 2027-2031. None is cancelled, they are postponed; necessary replacement investment continues on the affected lines. The order of works from 2032 will be set next year.
2. Protect network capacity: DB InfraGO will prepare diversion routes more thoroughly and reschedule other works where needed. For Lehrte – Berlin, a second freight diversion route will be available from February.
3. ETCS as the standard: from the early 2030s, every corridor renewal will install ETCS Level 2 without signals directly, subject to consultation with railway undertakings.
4. Gradual reopening: freight trains run first and passenger trains follow a little later, with extra running-time margins in the first weeks.
5. Keep the promise: a renewed line should stay largely free of major works for up to 10 years, and infrastructure-related incidents should fall by 80% no later than 100 days after reopening.

Transport Minister Steffen Bilger defended the principle, saying "the idea of corridor renewals is right", while admitting delivery has too often fallen short. DB CEO Evelyn Palla said the way the works are carried out must also change to limit disruption for passengers.

The new 2027-2031 schedule

Several corridors drop out of the schedule. Bremerhaven – Bremen, which was listed for 2027 in the schedule published by DB InfraGO in July 2025, no longer appears in the 2027-2031 list.

ETCS Level 2 without signals: what is planned

Until the early 2030s, DB InfraGO will "prepare" ETCS wherever technically possible: all renewed interlockings will be ETCS-ready, with adapted signal positions and modern axle counters, as on Hamburg – Berlin. The switch to ETCS Level 2 without signals will follow once train fleets are largely equipped.

On some sections, such as Troisdorf – Wiesbaden and Rosenheim – Salzburg, the transitional "ETCS Level 2 with signals" solution will be installed. It has been fully in service between Frankfurt and Mannheim since mid-year. EU Regulation 2024/1679 on TEN-T sets the framework for ERTMS deployment across the European network.

Freight first and a three-phase approach

DB InfraGO is introducing a three-phase model (before, during and after the main closure). Work that does not need long closures moves out of the main phase, especially complex signalling work. For the two renewals under way, new interlocking equipment is completed during the closure, but part of the commissioning will take place in 2027 with short temporary closures. Obertraubling – Passau and Troisdorf – Wiesbaden are due to reopen in mid-December 2026.

Results so far are used as evidence: according to the BMV and DB, long-distance trains leave the Riedbahn (Frankfurt – Mannheim) 20% more punctual than they entered it, and infrastructure-related incidents on Nuremberg – Regensburg have fallen by more than 90% since works ended this summer.

An engineer's view

For a signalling engineer, the key point is the intermediate step: ETCS-ready interlockings, axle counters and signals already positioned for the future. This avoids reopening the tracks in ten years to redo the signalling, provided the interfaces between interlocking and RBC are specified properly now. Moving part of the interlocking commissioning to 2027 is a realistic admission: signalling testing and commissioning is almost always the critical path on these projects. Finally, ETCS Level 2 without signals only works if trains are equipped, so the timetable will depend as much on fleet fitment as on trackside works.

Read also: the EU Agency for Railways wants to freeze ERTMS specifications (in French) and Germany's Infraplan sets eight targets for the rail network (in French).

Sources: BMV and DB InfraGO, press release, 9 October 2026; DB InfraGO, July 2025 schedule; Regulation (EU) 2024/1679.