Infrastructure

With effect from January 1, 2018, the Requirement Plan Implementation Agreement (Bedarfsplanumsetzungsver­einbarung; BUV), as concluded with the BMVI, was introduced in order to accelerate the realization of major projects. Under the agreed model for the implementation of new track infrastructure construction and expansion proj­­­ects by the Federal Government, new plans and the results of early public participation are now presented annually 
to the German Parliament. In the year under review, reports on the Hanau — Fulda and the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link projects were handed over to the BMVI.

Instead of the fixed amount for planning costs, the Federal Government subsidizes total project costs, with DB Group covering the economically viable share of the pro­­j­­ect portfolio. Planning support from the EBA will increase and non-­compliance with commissioning dates will be penalized.

In the fourth year of the LuFV II, we continued to work hard towards modernizing the existing network. The 2018 annual program was also designed to contribute to the overarching objective of sustainably improving the quality and availability of the ex­ist­­ing track infrastructure. Throughout, we continue to keep current and future customers of the infrastructure in mind. In the LuFV II, we made a commitment regarding quality, which we are making every possible effort to meet.

We believe that in the year under review, the targets set out in the agreement were achieved. This will be documented in the 2018 infrastructure state and development report, which we will submit to the Federal Government by April 30, 2019.

In order to be able to continue down this path of modernization consistently from 2020, we are currently in negotiations with the Federal Government regarding the follow-up agreement to the LuFV II, the period of which comes to an end on December 31, 2019.

On January 26, 2018, the Supervisory Board of DB AG deliberated the schedule and cost situation for the Stuttgart 21 project. The cost forecast was increased to a total value of about € 7.7 billion. To take into account unanticipated events, further funds of about € 0.5 billion have been earmarked, meaning that the overall financing framework has increased to € 8.2 billion. In addition to increases in construction prices, the increase in costs results in particular from significantly more extensive procedures for tunneling in the anhydrite rock, more extensive approval processes as a result of species protection and the postponement of commissioning to 2025, among other things.

The cost and schedule planning for the Wendlingen — ­­­Ulm new construction line was also deliberated. The cost forecast was increased to € 3.7 billion and the completion date postponed to 2022. The cost increase is mainly due to greater geological risks as well as additional capital expenditures in the modernization of Ulm Central Station. The delay results from more elaborate plan revision procedures for species protection in the Albvorland.

As part of the ZIP, the BMVI also made additional Federal funds available for seaport hinterland transport, noise remediation, accessibility and digitalization for the years 2016–2018. In the first two years combined, a total of about € 293 million was spent on infrastructure, whereas in the year under review, the total was € 283 million. For the years 2019 and 2020, follow-up fi­­nancing of about € 93 million has been agreed for some sub-programs.

Building information modeling (BIM) is a collaborative method of working where all data on infrastructure facilities is fed into an optimized planning, construction and management process that covers the entire life cycle and is made available digitally. From the end of 2020, DB Group’s RICs intend to use the BIM method to realize new projects that are standardizable or complex. Setting up the necessary bases for efficient digital processes and technologies in planning, construction and operation of rail infrastructure facilities should be completed by then. The BMVI is funding BIM trials in 13 major infrastructure projects. In addition, the method is being piloted in seven projects in the existing network. DB Netze Stations has been using the BIM method to plan and construct all of its new station projects since January 2017. DB Engineering & Consulting (DB E & C) is currently using the BIM method in about 90 DB Group projects and plans to expand its portfolio by about 100 further BIM projects in 2019. In doing so, DB E & C is using state-of-the-art digital technologies in capturing inventory data, planning and construction monitoring, and is using a module-based training approach to ensure that employees are BIM-qualified.

On May 7, 2018, a passenger train operated by Bayerische Regiobahn collided with a freight train near Aichach station. Two people died in the accident. Several passengers were injured.