Digitalization and innovation

Holistic development

The holistic development of the stations was continued in 2024. To make a contribution to achieving transport policy goals, stations must be developed holistically together with the Federal Government, the Federal states and local authorities. Experience in recent years has clearly shown that holistic upgrading and development measures have a noticeably positive impact on customer satisfaction. The measures are also necessary in order to reduce the large backlog. In 2024, a further 113 holistically developed stations, including 20 smaller stations on the Riedbahn as well as many other feeder stations, S-Bahn stations and some hub stations, were modernized throughout Germany to make them fit for the future.

Newly designed interior areas, modern seating, extended way­­finding systems and attractive forecourts are some of the aspects that are important for creating holistically developed stations. Based on customer satisfaction findings, quality standards were developed and combined into a “Stations of the future” methodology. The standards for this methodology are defined jointly with the Federal Railway Authority and the Federal Government.

Competence center station forecourt and onward mobility

DB InfraGO has been working since 2024 to implement a holistic development in the station environment with the “Competence center station forecourt and onward mobility.” The aim is to develop site-specific forecourts together with municipalities, Federal states and public authorities that make a positive contribution to urban and neighborhood development. An interdisciplinary team advises on suitable funding, develops concepts based on potential analyses and provides support in the design of areas. The competence center also takes climate resilience measures such as unsealing, greening, shading and water retention into account in its forecourt concepts.

Capacity and frequency management

Capacity management is of great importance for stations. In order to facilitate the forecast growth in passenger numbers, the performance of the stations must be further developed with suitable measures. Germany in sync is a key factor in the 2040 passenger forecast, which is used as the basis for estimating any capacity requirements for the stations.

• Since 2021, more than 350 stations have already been analyzed using a capacity check. As a result, capacity obstacles and bottlenecks were identified in a standardized manner and measures were initiated to eliminate them. Some short-term measures have already been implemented, such as clearing platforms. By clearing the platforms and applying a standardized system of organization to all platforms, it should be possible to make better use of the existing circulation areas and thus improve the distribution of passengers on the platforms.
• The frequency management system is an important tool for identifying capacity bottlenecks. Real-time measurement using video technology makes it possible to detect an increase in passenger volumes at an early stage and take appropriate measures to prevent acute overcrowding. The video data can also be used to derive longer-term measures or verify their effect. This means that it can also avoid extensive and cost-intensive structural measures. As of December 31, 2024, 46 stations were equipped with a frequency management system. We are planning to equip a total of 100 stations with a frequency management system.

WiFi at stations

At the end of 2024, free WiFi was available at more than 600 stations. This offer is realized both through DB Group’s own WiFi installations and through WiFi networks of cooperation partners. This means that WiFi services at stations already reach more than half of all passengers every day. After a service concession was awarded to a new cooperation partner at the end of 2023, the first two WiFi installations in the new cooperation model were completed as sample stations in the greater Munich area in December 2024.

Expansion of online channels

The digital channel bahnhof.de was further expanded. In addition, the website was supplemented to include greater regional individuality and depth of information for the completed locations. To improve accessibility, for example, the screen readers for our station maps have been optimized to provide people with visual impairments with important orientation in the stations.

Smart Cities

With Smart Cities | DB, we want to improve people’s everyday lives through intelligent and environmentally friendly services and stations in municipalities and cities. In 2024, we were able to implement further measures:

• Click&Collect service: “Box – the pick-up station” is a logistics solution for the last mile. With about 400 locations, we offer the largest network of provider-independent Packstations (pick-up stations that are largely independent of opening hours) in Germany.
• Mobility hubs and e-charging: In the Mobility segment, further services were created at stations in 2024. At the end of 2024, there were 66 mobility hubs with more than 20 sharing providers. In addition, various mobility hubs have been realized in cooperation with municipalities, transport companies and contracting organizations.
• Micro depots: Micro depots can be accessed by multiple providers and used logistically according to the multi-user principle. Deliveries are then made by low-emissions and low-noise small vehicles. New micro depots were opened in Hamburg-Altona and Berlin in 2024, among other locations.
• Smart Cities partnerships: As part of our existing partnership with the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, we also held a hackathon in 2024 to develop new ideas and solutions to make public transport more inclusive, convenient and accessible. Together with the state capital of Hanover, measures to increase subjective safety were implemented at the central station. In October 2024, we entered into another Smart Cities partnership with the state capital of Potsdam to improve the quality of stay and connection mobility at selected stations. The project is funded by the Federal “Smart Cities Model Proj­­ects” program.
• Quality of stay: Product developments for quality of stay, climate adaptation measures, subjective security and new usage concepts were further developed in 2024. At Hamburg-Harburg, plans to transform the station forecourt into an attractive and climate-resilient mobility hub (e.g. through flood prevention and heat protection) will also be driven forward in 2025/2026 with financial support from the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

Consumer offer at the station

We contribute with about 160 new openings and 90 modernizations on our rental space in 2024 to an attractive and varied offering for our customers.

In addition, we are constantly testing new concepts in pop-up stores for passengers’ needs in the station with a regular change of partners.

We are thus implementing a diverse range of products at the station and promote fast sales with little waiting time in our business partners’ areas, including through digital payment systems, a sustainably designed store fitting and a sys­tematic queue management.

Cooperation with the Bahnhofsmission

The Bahnhofsmission (train station welfare center) is an important partner in the station social area. In this context, DB InfraGO provides the charitable organization with the premises free of charge and assumes responsibility for the maintenance of the rooms and the heating, toilet and electrical systems, etc. In April 2024, DB InfraGO launched the action group “Strong Bahnhofsmission” to provide increased and coordinated support for the Bahnhofsmission. This is aimed at implementing measures in respect of infrastructure, finance and personnel for the benefit of the Bahnhofsmission in a more focused manner.