As an operator of critical infrastructure and as an organization with high land use, we are potentially severely impacted operationally by the effects of climate change on our core business, the railway in Germany. That is why we are intensifying our efforts in the Integrated Rail System to prepare, among other things, railway technology for the increasing weather extremes caused by climate change. We rely on, among other things, the scientific statements of the studies commissioned by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) to advance the strategic further development of our climate resilience management.

Analysis of climate scenarios

In 2021, we once again commissioned the PIK to conduct a study examining the climatic changes in Germany up to 2060 and their expected impact on DB track infrastructure, using two climate scenarios from the IPCC:

• RCP 2.6 (compliance with the 2°C target) and
• RCP 8.5 (“continue as before”).

The results predict significantly more heat days and less harsh winters. At the same time, extreme weather conditions such as heavy rains will increase and the intensity of storm events will continue to increase, too. For the first time, the study also provides detailed forecasts of the climatic effects in the 34 transport regions of DB InfraGO. The findings from the PIK study from 2021 in conjunction with the applied methodology of the BMDV network of experts form the basis for our further climate impact analyses in the other areas of the Integrated Rail System. We are already detailing the financial impact of extreme weather events in the context of major damage events.

The results of an exposure analysis carried out specifically for passenger stations as a first step in the climate impact analyses confirm the results of the PIK study that the effects of climate change differ greatly by region. We are in close contact with the German Weather Service (DWD) and the German Adaptation Strategy for Climate Change (DAS) Basic Service in order to close any data gaps that are still available for further analyses. Our target is to expand the analyses to other business units. The results of the exposure analyses form the basis for further analysis steps in the climate impact analysis with the criticality analysis, at the end of which there is a need for specific adjustments. For these, adjustment measures must be identified and evaluated in order to further increase DB Group’s resilience to extreme weather conditions.

Measures to adapt to climate change

In 2023, we once again intensively supported the work of the BMDV network of experts by providing data and our expertise in several projects across different modes of transport and Federal authorities, e.g. to test a resilience management concept covering different modes of transport.

In response to the expected future increase of extreme weather conditions and the simultaneous expansion of rail transport in Germany, we are taking various measures to mitigate the consequences of climate change for DB Group: At DB InfraGO, the natural hazard management department deals with extreme weather events and adapting to climate impacts in order to reduce the negative effects on the track infrastructure to a minimum. Natural hazard management has identified three core areas for this purpose. In addition to vegetation management for storm damage prevention, winter management and heat prevention are also being strategically further developed.

Group-wide, all efforts required for reliable rail operations in the face of the challenges of climate change are pooled in the “Climate-resistant rail technology” program. The target is to determine and implement the necessary measures on the basis of climate projections in order to make the rail technology, such as vehicles, infrastructure and other structures, technically resilient. In addition, various technologies aimed at protecting sensitive components in the command and control technology from increasingly long and intense heat waves were examined in 2023. These are to be tested in operation for the first time in 2024 as part of a research cooperation with the German Center for Rail Transport Research. Together with a partner, we tested a train-supported embankment irrigation system in regular operation and approved it. In future, it will allow us to carry out work which carries a risk of fire, such as rail welding, even during periods of drought.

Following the flood in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate in 2021, DB Engineering&Consulting (DB E&C), in cooperation with the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management (IWW) at RWTH Aachen Uni­versity, initiated a research project on the resilience of track infra­structure on behalf of the German Center for Rail Transport Research (DZSF). In 2022 and 2023, DB E&C focused on the reconstruction of railway bridges and construction work, among others, on the Ahrtal railway.

At the same time, modern technologies such as geo­radars and expert interviews were used to gain knowledge about heavy rain events. The objective by the end of 2024 is to have a master plan for a robust heavy rain precaution concept, which will be presented to the Federal Railway Authority and will help to adapt the track infrastructure to climate change.