Inspection and replacement of concrete ties
A precautionary program for inspecting and replacing concrete ties has been underway since summer 2022. The inspection program was initiated as a result of the train accident in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on June 3, 2022. Based on current knowledge, damaged concrete ties seem to have led to the tragic accident. Immediately after the first suspicion of a possible manufacturing defect as the cause of the accident, DB Group initiated a special inspection program for concrete ties. Initially, about 200,000 concrete ties of a particular construction type and from a particular manufacturer were included.
Additional technical material investigations showed some irregularities in the material quality of the concrete ties from this manufacturer. Further detailed investigations show that a specific type of rock used in the production of concrete ties could also be responsible for the damage. Based on this information, DB Group then inspected another 130,000 concrete ties nationwide in November 2022, for which the same type of rock was used. The inspections were extended to other manufacturers.
If concrete ties are flagged during inspections, they are replaced as quickly as possible. In order to ensure safety in railway operations, trains must travel at lower speeds until the ties have been replaced in the affected sections of the line. In some cases, lines must be closed even before the start of actual construction work.
DB Group has also set up a group of internal and external experts to continuously examine possible further preventive measures for the inspection and maintenance of concrete ties. In April 2023, the regulations on monitoring concrete ties were further tightened. Findings from inspections and investigations carried out so far have been used as an opportunity to further raise the already high standards of existing inspection and maintenance processes. Based on these findings, stricter criteria will apply in the future when classifying damaged concrete ties manufactured using the identified type of rock. The preventive replacement of damaged concrete ties continues in 2024.
DB Group will compensate the affected train operating companies for the damage that has occurred in connection with the replacement of concrete ties and the resulting measures. In 2023, DB Netz AG (now DB InfraGO AG) agreed on compensation payments to intra-Group and non-Group customers totaling € 13.5 million.
