Commissioning of a modern interlocking system in Cologne-Mülheim – the time has come: Deutsche Bahn's first call-off from an accelerated contract model with the railway industry
Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the railway industry have for the first time concluded an accelerated contract model in the form of a volume contract worth 6.3 billion euros with a purchase obligation for modern control and safety technology. DB has now made the first call-off from the volume contract: The order was for the construction of a new modern interlocking in Cologne-Mülheim and the equipping of the line section with ETCS.
For the comprehensive modernisation of the rail network, DB is relying on modern, digital interlocking technology and the installation of the European Train Control System (ETCS). A new volume contract has been concluded with four companies from the railway industry for this large-scale project. This should create planning security and accelerate the realisation of the new technology. In addition to modern, digital interlocking technology, the volume contract also includes ETCS and the integrated control and operating system (iLBS).
As part of the Rhine-Alpine corridor project, the relay interlocking in Cologne-Mülheim is now to be replaced by a modern interlocking. The new interlocking will be built in two stages. For the first construction phase, the project team called off the agreed technology from the volume contract for the first time on Friday, 16 May 2025. The call-off was made to the bidding consortium Siemens Mobility GmbH and Leonhard Weiss GmbH & Co. KG – one of a total of four partners in the volume contract.
„We are convinced that we are setting the course for the digital age with the first call-off from the volume contract," says project manager Florian Schwientek, who is delighted with the results.
The aim of the initial call-off project is also to obtain series approval for the next generation of modern, digital interlocking technology from Siemens. In Cologne-Mülheim and Bergisch-Gladbach, the points and signals will in future be controlled via track field concentrators – a new component in the architecture of digital control and signalling technology. In addition, the line from Cologne-Mülheim to Bergisch Gladbach will be equipped with ETCS Level 2. The existing "point-type train control system" will be retained.
The Member of the Management Board for Infrastructure at DB InfraGO AG, Klaus Müller, congratulates on the successful initial call-off from the volume contract.
„This is a significant step towards a digitalized and modern railroad," he emphasizes.
The project manager of the Rhine-Alpine corridor, Ulrich Kohlenberger, is enthusiastic about the rapid implementation and the partnership-based cooperation.
„It is encouraging to see how different parties are working together to drive such an innovative project forward," he says, congratulating his subproject manager Markus Henrich and his team.
The project team is highly motivated. Together with the suppliers Siemens and Leonhard Weiss, the focus in the coming months will be on finalising the implementation planning and preparing for the start of construction.
The initial call-off in Cologne-Mülheim is a pilot project for the volume contract and the digitalisation of the German rail network - with the aim of making train services more reliable and future-proof.
