German railway news
News about railway, metro and tram infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in Germany, from Railway Gazette International.
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In depthGermany: Deutschlandtakt vision shapes capacity planning
Development of a medium-term capacity utilisation strategy is a key building block that meets European requirements whilst supporting the roll-out of Germany’s planned national regular-interval timetable over the coming decades.
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NewsBaden-Württemberg places €500m EMU order
GERMANY: The Land of Baden-Württemberg has awarded Alstom a €500m contract to supply and maintain a further 26 Coradia Max partly double-deck electric multiple-units.
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NewsTeam Poland acquires German tram manufacturer
EUROPE: Pesa has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of German tram manufacturer HeiterBlick, as part of the Polish rolling stock manufacturer’s ambitions for growth backed by the national Team Poland strategy.
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NewsNexrail orders DE18 SmartHybrid locomotives with updated specification
EUROPE: Leasing company Nexrail has ordered 20 Vossloh Rolling Stock DE18 SmartHybrid locomotives with updated specifications, taking its total order to 50 of the type.
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In depthAutomation: Futurail sees autonomous trains within six years
Co-founders Alex Haag and Maximilian Schöffer tell Andrew Grantham how Franco-German start-up Futurail is aiming to bring automation technology from the road sector to rail, where they see a great opportunity to build a Europe-based global champion.
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NewsTechnically demanding scissors crossover produced for Ruhrbahn
GERMANY: Czech turnout manufacturer DT Výhybkárna a Strojírna has produced what it says is ‘technically unique’ double track crossover mounted on Sekisui synthetic sleepers for Ruhrbahn.
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NewsSecond generation Citylink tram-train arrives in Chemnitz
GERMANY: The first of 19 second-generation Stadler Citylink tram-trains ordered by Mittelsachsen transport authority VMS for use around Chemnitz has been delivered for testing.
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NewsRock Rail to finance second-largest BEMU fleet in Germany
GERMANY: Westfalen-Lippe transport authority NWL has ordered 61 Siemens Mobility Mireo Plus B battery-electric multiple-units for use on Netz Nördliches Westfalen regional passenger services from December 2029.
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NewsRegionaltangente West tram-trains to offer easy access from three platform heights
GERMANY: The Fahma rolling stock subsidiary of Rhein-Main transport authority RMV has awarded Stadler a contract to supply 27 Citylink tram-trains for use on the Regionaltangente West orbital line.
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NewsEurostar and DB develop plans to launch direct London to Germany trains
EUROPE: Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn are working together to develop plans to launch direct high speed train services between London and major German cities such as Köln and Frankfurt in the early 2030s.
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NewsTram tunnel firefighting robot unveiled
GERMANY: Austrian company Rosenbauer and Augsburg fire service have unveiled a prototype firefighting robot for use in the tram tunnel now being completed under the city’s main railway station.
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NewsPlasser & Theurer wins large order for digitalised tampers
GERMANY: Plasser & Theurer has announced an ‘impressive’ large order to supply the national railway’s DB Bahnbau Gruppe construction business with 18 UnimatExpress 2X-4x4 Dynamic high-capacity tamping machines.
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NewsDB InfraGO orders ‘green steel’ rails
GERMANY: Infrastructure manager DB InfraGO has awarded Saarstahl Rail a contract to supply an pilot batch of ‘green steel’ rail for use in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland.
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NewsDB InfraGO embraces artificial intelligence to support train dispatchers
GERMANY: Infrastructure manager DB InfraGO is rolling out an AI assistance tool for its dispatchers, with the aim of developing a fully digitalised decision-making workflow to improve regulation of trains on busy routes by 2027.
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NewsAugsburg orders tramway rail grinder
GERMANY: Augsburg public transport operator SWA has ordered a MPV VentuS-NV rail grinding and maintenance vehicle from Windhoff Bahn & Anlagentechnik for use on its tram network.
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NewsDSB’s Talgo trains enter service on København – Hamburg route
DENMARK: The first of the Talgo 230 trainsets ordered for DSB’s long-distance and international routes enters passenger service between København and Hamburg.
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NewsGATX opens wagon training academy to keep its expertise on track
GERMANY: Wagon leasing company GATX Rail Europe says the opening of its technical and safety training centre at Lehrte marks ‘the start of a new chapter in how we transfer expertise across the company’.
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NewsEurostar orders Celestia double-deck high speed trains
EUROPE: Eurostar has announced a €1·4bn order for 30 Alstom Avelia Horizon double-deck high speed trainsets, with options for 20 more.
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NewsLow floors meet high speeds as DB unveils ICE L fleet
GERMANY: DB and manufacturer Talgo has unveiled an ICE L inter-city trainset at Berlin Ostbahnhof, saying the fleet would set standards for accessibility and family friendliness.
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NewsDB to expand half-hourly network with December 2025 timetable change
GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn’s December timetable change will bring a near-doubling of destinations served by half-hourly ICE services.
