Technology
Connectivity
Uninterrupted cell phone coverage is of great importance for the satisfaction of our customers. The seamless track coverage of our line network includes the track and station coverage as well as the coverage of the tunnels, insofar as specified by the Federal Network Agency or agreed with the public mobile network operators. According to the public mobile network operators, about 200 tunnels on main ICE routes and about 200 other tunnels have already been supplied in accordance with the Federal Network Agency requirement from 2019. However, the public network operators have not upgraded all the tunnels concerned within the deadline set by the Federal Network Agency (by the end of 2024). Nevertheless, the public mobile network operators are still obliged to carry out the expansion of the remaining 200 or so tunnels. DB Group is involved in the “Rail Connectivity Master Plan” project as part of commissions from mobile network operators. We also cooperate with Telekom and Vodafone to provide seamless cell phone coverage for large parts of the line network. In 2024, Telekom exceeded the contractual obligations in the open field (excluding tunnels) two years before the target date and thus significantly improved cell phone coverage on all lines with more than 2,000 passengers per day and other secondary lines. Cooperation with Vodafone will be continued.
With the help of special laser processing methods for vehicle glazing, we improve the cell phone coverage of our customers on the train. The use of mobile signal-permeable windows is to become the standard for new vehicles as well as for the retrofitting of existing vehicles and thus for more than 3,300 vehicles. In addition to ensuring uninterrupted cell phone coverage for our customers, we are also focusing on measures to achieve gigabyte connectivity along the line network. In addition to the 5G mobile communications standard, it is also about the new Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) rail radio standard, which should be available by 2035. A common basis with the public mobile network operators, migration-oriented technical specifications and an integrated 5G-on-track design are required to make two such major changes available. In 2024, the technical feasibility of the 5G-on-track design while simultaneously meeting the requirements of the FRMCS infrastructure expansion was demonstrated in the Gigabit Innovation Track project. In 2025, we want to continue the expansion of innovation for future-proofing and are planning the expansion of the Hamburg — Berlin line in conjunction with the public mobile communications providers. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed by the mobile network operators, other partners and DB Group at the German government’s digital summit. At the same time, we are gaining further experience in setting up passive FRMCS infrastructure on the track with a targeted focus on resource efficiency and cost integration for the strategic deployment of a complete FRMCS migration.
Digitalization of vehicle maintenance
The digitalization of vehicle maintenance is a key lever for increasing capacity, ensuring vehicle availability and optimizing cost structures and staff productivity within DB Group. In this context, the Digital Maintenance Vehicles (DIFa) program forms the central basis for the targeted expansion of vehicle condition monitoring, implementation of digital fleet control, digitalization of depot control and the roll-out of digital assistants for tradespeople as well as for the automation of routine processes in the depots. In 2024, among other things the Digital Fleet Management was introduced in the first three regions at DB Regional, data-based optimization of wheel set maintenance was carried out in particular at DB Long-Distance and DB Regional, and the holistic digitalization of maintenance was launched at S-Bahn (metro) Hamburg.
DIFa’s portfolio is scheduled for completion in 2025. Since its launch in 2021, savings totaling about € 120 million are to be achieved by 2026, with a permanent base effect of about € 30 million per year from 2026. Due to its usability and effectiveness, it was decided to continue and scale up further digitalization and automation projects in 2024 as part of a new train power maintenance program.
Green Rail Technology
By way of the Green Rail Technology program, we want to drive forward the green transformation focusing on rail technology. This entails about 330,000 technical facilities, about 10,000 vehicles and about 83,000 freight cars. The core task of Green Rail Technology is to make technical innovations usable, test them and scale them up in the overall system to jointly improve sustainability and profitability in the short term.
2024, the program has provided significant technological proof of benefit, particularly in respect of energy optimization, noise reduction and resource conservation. We have planned scaling projects, particularly in the area of energy efficiency in vehicles and infrastructure. These include, for example, self-opening and self-closing hall doors No. 46 and paint systems that dry at room temperature. The projects are aimed at reducing stationary heating needs, optimizing work processes and increasing employee satisfaction. To save on the energy needs of vehicles, the consumption of air-conditioning systems in DB Regional trains is being reduced by retrofitting a load-dependent control system in S-Bahn (metro) trains of the 422 and 423 series, among other things.
Based on the experience gained in 2024, the internal program management model will be revised and will focus in the next step on the implementation and expansion of measures in energy efficiency, energy peak load optimization and energy storage, as well as concrete proof of profitability in respect of resource conservation and circulatory capacity.
Diesel phase-out rail
The Group diesel phase-out rail program (Dieselausstieg Schiene; DaS aims to drive forward the phase-out of diesel to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. This focuses on the increasing use of the biofuel HVO No. 164 as a bridging technology, immediate climate protection measures and the testing and roll-out of alternative drives.
Ecosystems and partnerships
The global crises and a tense economic situation worldwide are making market conditions more difficult. The pressure on established market players is also increasing due to many uncertainties. Companies tend to cut back on innovations, in particular, which are often associated with uncertainty. To tap efficiency potential in this environment and ensure the long-term competitiveness of DB Group, it is still necessary to act as an ecosystem-oriented company.
DB Group stands for openness to innovation, which is being systematically expanded in particular through partnerships with the help of “Beyond1435” and “DB Mindbox.” Potential partners and their solutions are tested in non-binding pilot projects. If this is promising, integration into DB Group’s value chain is possible via various cooperation models to make the innovative strength and expertise of these partners available on a long-term and binding basis.
The DB innovation initiatives are aimed at achieving a rapid efficiency effect: for example, AI technologies in vehicle maintenance are used to optimize the search for spare parts and duplicate recognition in warehousing.
The productive use of generative AI is also made possible by partnerships within DB Group. With the DataHub Europe initiative, DB Group and the Schwarz Group are working together to strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty, among other things. The DataHub Europe is a platform that provides and curates high-quality data (e.g. from media and publishing houses) to enable “AI made in Europe.” Among other things, the DataHub Europe is intended to enable highly sensitive data (such as audit data) to be made available on a protected IT infrastructure in Germany in compliance with the applicable EU legal framework to build own AI applications with such data.
Digital Rail for Germany
Digitalization, automation and AI are the central keys to higher capacity and optimal utilization of the rail network. Digital Rail for Germany (Digitale Schiene Deutschland; DSD) No. 145 is working on a digital, highly automated rail system. Digital interlockings (DSTW), the European Train Control System (ETCS) and automated driving (ATO) serve as a basis.
The flagship project of Digital Rail for Germany in 2024 was the Stuttgart Digital Hub (Digitaler Knoten Stuttgart; DKS). In the Stuttgart area, a major junction in Germany will be equipped with digital command and control technology (digital interlockings, ETCS Level 2 without signals and other DSD technologies) for the first time – but probably a year later than scheduled in 2026. The BMDV has published a vehicle funding directive to support the vehicle refitting. In a first wave, a total of 491 regional and S-Bahn (metro) multiple units are to be equipped.
Digital and electronic interlockings are important foundations and prerequisites for the use of ETCS. As part of this, the DSTW Meitingen-Mertingen started operation in 2024. Two more electronic interlocking systems (ESTW) were put into operation in 2024. The ESTW in Baden-Baden replaced a relay interlocking that was operated with old analog technology. The first measures to digitalize the line between Flensburg and Maschen and modernize the command and control technology between Halle/Leipzig and Berlin also began in 2024. As well as being equipped with ETCS, numerous interlockings and control units, such as level crossings, are being digitalized on both lines.
In addition to the implementation projects, we also made progress in the development of fully automated, driverless driving in 2024 as part of the DSD. In 2024 this focused on projects for the automated setup and shutdown of trains in the Automated Train project. In 2024, the DSD also underwent strategic realignment and adjustments. The reason for this is insufficient funding and the resulting need to prioritize. Among other things, the DSD target image was adapted so that a central goal is the complete refitting of all interlockings to modern ESTW or DSTW. With regard to ETCS equipment, a comprehensive portfolio will be tackled in the next few years, with the priorities DKS, Rhine-Alpine corridor, TEN ScanMed corridor and high-performance corridors.
The political and legal requirements for DSD (including equipment planning for ETCS, radio and ATO) were also updated by way of the notification of the National Implementation Plan to the European Commission by the BMDV in July 2024.