Overview
- The Bundesverkehrsministerium released the 160‑page Infraplan on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, as a rolling five‑year blueprint covering 2026–2030 and to be updated annually.
- The plan establishes eight steering metrics—including new track kilometres, electrified route kilometres and infrastructure‑related delay minutes—and links results to stronger oversight and possible funding or contractual consequences for DB InfraGO.
- The ministry plans a new Leistungsvereinbarung with DB InfraGO targeted to start by January 1, 2027, and seeks to create an Eisenbahninfrastrukturfonds to provide multi‑year financing, with the fund aimed to be operational around January 2028.
- Priorities shift toward large‑scale renovation and electrification rather than new‑build: the Infraplan foresees about 155 km of new track to 2030, expands near‑term sanierung volumes, and scales back immediate corridor 'Generalsanierungen' while leaving many corridor timetables unspecified.
- The plan responds to rising network strain—the share of kilometres on overburdened sections rose from 3.7% in 2020 to 6.3% in 2025—but unions, industry groups and environmental NGOs praise the step yet warn that only legally binding multi‑year funding, a clear Zielnetz 2035 and firm schedules will determine whether punctuality and reliability actually improve.