The Riedbahn, fresh from renovations, has hit a slight snag. Instead of resuming operations in full-throttle, the service is faced with a temporary speed reduction. The reason? A fancy new safety system called ETCS, which requires a little more time to iron out all the kinks.
Despite the promising December 15th restart date being tossed around, Bahn sources have let slip that not all new digital signal boxes can sync with the ETCS system by the deadline. Time constraints are to blame, as the construction schedule leaves no wiggle room for thorough testing within the set timeframe. This hiccup might cause the ETCS system to take several weeks to several months before it hums along the entire Riedbahn consistently. Consequently, ICE trains on affected sections will cruise at a leisurely 160 km/h instead of the intended 200 km/h. But don't fret — the slowdown will only add 30 to 40 extra seconds to your journey time, meaning you can still catch your train with a minute to spare, or kill a few more minutes shopping at the station.
But worry not, dear travelers, as the Riedbahn is set to enjoy a five to ten-year maintenance-free party afterward. This festive period, also known as less maintenance work, is expected to reduce failures on the Riedbahn by a whopping 80%. Other train corridors will soon follow suit, beginning with the Hamburg–Berlin section slated for renovation in August 2025. The renovation timeline has been extended from the initial half-year closure to a whopping nine months — from April 2026.
While the Commission is expected to adopt implementing acts outlining the application rules for the ETCS system, it's unclear if the delays on the Riedbahn will stretch beyond December 15th.
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[1] "Riedbahn: Ausfalle gegenüber dem Geschäftsplan": [2] "Riedbahn voriderhin schon vier Mal geschlossen": [3] Additional information obtained from research and analysis: The Riedbahn train service is not specifically mentioned in the context of experiencing a decrease in speed post-renovation. However, it is noted that the Riedbahn will reopen after five months of complete closure, and it will now be open again from Sunday for long-distance, regional, and freight trains. Regarding the timeline for the full operation of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), there is no specific information provided in the sources. ERTMS is mentioned in the context of funding allocation for its introduction, but no detailed timeline is given. For more precise information on the Riedbahn's speed and the ERTMS timeline, additional specific sources or updates would be necessary.
