Deutsche Bahn (DB) has entered into a groundbreaking €6.3 billion framework agreement with four leading contractors to modernize and digitize Germany’s rail network. This landmark deal, part of the broader Digital Rail Germany initiative, aims to transform train control and safety technology, including the introduction of advanced digital interlockings, European Train Control System (ETCS), and integrated control and operating systems.
Under the agreement, DB will order 15,500 control units by 2028, with individual projects set for completion by 2032. The first batch of orders, valued at millions of euros, is expected to be placed this spring. The four contractors chosen for the project are MerMec Deutschland, Hitachi Rail GTS Deutschland, Alstom, and a Siemens Mobility-Leonhard Weiss consortium.
The framework contract marks a shift toward streamlined, standardized solutions, enabling faster planning, execution, and commissioning of these projects, reducing timelines from up to eight years to just a few years. This approach eliminates the need for individual contracts, improving efficiency and facilitating quicker rollouts across DB’s network.
Berthold Huber, DB’s board member for infrastructure, highlighted the significance of this deal in advancing Germany’s rail digitization efforts, noting that the contract will accelerate the replacement of outdated control and safety systems, which are critical for the network’s safety and performance.
Siemens Mobility’s share of the contract is valued at €2.8 billion, while Alstom will supply nearly 1,900 interlockings and ETCS units, worth over €600 million. Siemens Mobility CEO, Michael Peter, described the agreement as a “paradigm shift” for the rail industry, emphasizing that it will enable more efficient implementation of modern rail technologies.
The deal represents a major step forward for DB’s modernization plans, with a focus on innovation, scalability, and improved safety across Germany’s rail network.
