Riedbahn (Ried Railway) electronic interlocking systems and general refurbishment

Several electronic interlocking systems are to be upgraded or replaced for the DB Netz InfraGO AG (German Rail) Central Region. Drees & Sommer infrastructure experts are supporting the client by providing a wide range of services.

For the Riedbahn interlocking system, the services provided include project management and project control covering HOAI (German Schedule of Services and Fees for Architects and Engineers) service phases 3 + 4. The aim of the project is to improve the operational quality of the systems and to ensure their availability. To achieve this, the interlocking systems on the 4010 line from Lampertheim to Walldorf will be replaced with an electronic interlocking system (ESTW) with four ESTW-A and three ESTW control centers in Gernsheim. In addition, the Continuous Automatic Train Control system will be replaced by a Level 2 European Train Control System (ETCS) (with signals). Work started in 2022 and will be completed in 2024.

In July 2024, DB will begin work on the general refurbishment of the extremely congested Riedbahn rail corridor between Frankfurt and Mannheim. A multidisciplinary team will coordinate the work allowing it to be carried out at record speed. The aim is to renew all technical facilities and modernize 20 stations along the line in just five months. The goal was successfully achieved with the reopening of the line on 14.12.2024. Among other things, 152 points, 111 km of track, 130 km of overhead line and 20 stations were successfully modernized and put into operation on time. With this general upgrade, DB is for the first time bundling all construction measures scheduled for the next few years for a high-volume corridor into a single line closure.

Drees & Sommer is closely coordinating both measures – the commissioning of the electronic interlocking system (ESTW) and the general refurbishment.