The German Federal Ministry of Transport has released a funding guideline on Friday intended to support railway operators in retrofitting their trains with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS).
To ensure German trains can operate seamlessly within the future digitalized European rail network, the federal government is providing approximately 1.7 billion euros for these conversions through 2030. Additionally, the government is committing around 482 million euros to equip the Digital Hub Stuttgart (DKS).
Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) stated that the guideline will “make our trains ready for a digitalized railway infrastructure.” He added that the new digital technology integrated into both trains and the infrastructure will allow for real-time communication between vehicles and trackside equipment, which is expected to significantly improve both reliability and punctuality.
The commitment is also rooted in Germany’s pledge to the European Union to guarantee that rail vehicles can continue to circulate freely across the European network, even when infrastructure is updated using the European Train Control System (ETCS) as part of ERTMS. Consequently, the trains themselves must be equipped accordingly. The funding guideline offers substantial support, setting maximum grants of up to 60 percent for standard equipment installations, and up to 90 percent for novel vehicle variants undergoing initial “First-of-Class” equipping.
