The digitization of Deutsche Bahn is a mammoth project. According to a study, it will take significantly longer and be more expensive – but will still be worthwhile.
The digitization of Deutsche Bahn's rail network will probably take significantly longer than previously planned. In addition, the costs could more than double. That is at least the result of a study for the Federal Ministry of Transport, which was carried out by the management consultancy McKinsey, the law firm Orth Kluth and the engineering group Emch+Berger. The “Spiegel” was the first to report on this.
The study concludes that the digitization of Deutsche Bahn's infrastructure could cost up to 69 billion euros. In 2018, the Federal Ministry of Transport was still estimating costs of 28 billion euros. The introduction of the modern train control system ETCS, which had been planned for 2030, will therefore be delayed until at least 2036. The system is not even expected to be launched nationwide until 2043.
As part of the digitalization of Deutsche Bahn, the infrastructure is to be improved, driving is to be further automated and the vehicles are to be better networked. This is to increase the capacity and reliability of rail operations. The railway also hopes to save energy through automated braking and acceleration.
The ETCS train control system is part of the future common European rail traffic control system. In the long term, this is intended to replace and standardize the more than 20 different control systems that currently exist. This is intended to simplify cross-border traffic.
According to the study, equipping trains with modern control technology for automated operation will be particularly expensive. The Federal Ministry of Transport had previously estimated the cost at four billion euros. According to the study, the costs could multiply to 38 billion euros.
The study nevertheless confirms that the railway's digitization projects are economically viable in the long term. According to the study, the expenditure by 2070 will be offset by a benefit of 102.5 billion euros, writes “Spiegel”. The costs of digitization will be covered by 2064. From then on, the investments will pay off.
