DB CEO Evelyn Palla is adapting the modernization program: refurbished sections are to go into service in stages going forward – with a particular focus on control and safety technology as well as ETCS preparation. At the same time, key projects such as Hamburg–Berlin are being delayed.
Quick overview
This report is primarily relevant for rail passengers, as it may have concrete effects on planning, connections or infrastructure. The focus is on Deutsche Bahn, general refurbishment, rail network, ETCS, rail traffic and infrastructure. The key points are summarized compactly below.
Key points
- Refurbished route sections will in future be opened for traffic in stages rather than all at once.
- The focus of the adjustment is on control and safety technology as well as preparation for ETCS.
- By 2036, more than 40 route sections are still set to undergo general refurbishment, each with closures of around six months.
- The Hamburg–Berlin general refurbishment is being delayed by six weeks; cost: 2.7 billion euros; only one in four trains there is on time.
- The German Federal Audit Office assesses the general refurbishments as uneconomical in August 2026; punctuality in DB long-distance services stood at only 52.6 percent in July 2026.
What this means for travelers
In the short term, little usually changes for travelers; in the long term, however, such projects can deliver more stable timetables, better connections and more capacity. During construction phases, diversions and temporary restrictions are possible.
Context
As part of the general refurbishments of the German rail network that have been running since 2024, DB had previously put routes back into operation in a bundled manner after months of full closure. In view of rising costs, delays and persistently low punctuality in long-distance services, as well as criticism from the German Federal Audit Office, the company is now adjusting its refurbishment strategy.
What to watch now
- Only check concrete timetable or construction notices once travel dates are set.
- Allow more generous connection times for international trips.
- Monitor the source and operator information in case dates are still provisional.