Ihrhove Electronic Interlocking Commissioned with Integrated Control System
Flexible deployment of modern control and operating systems in practice
On 6 July 2026, DB InfraGO commissioned the Ihrhove Electronic Interlocking (ESTW) together with the Integrated Control System (iBS), a subsystem of the Integrated Control and Operating System (iLBS). A distinctive feature of the project is that operations are managed from the historic bridge signal box in Weener rather than from a conventional operations control centre. The project demonstrates how modern control and operating systems can be flexibly adapted to a wide range of operational and infrastructure concepts.
In addition to operation from Operations Control Centres, Integrated Sub-Control Centres (iUZ) or, in future, Digital Control Centres (DSZ), existing buildings can also be incorporated into modern operating concepts. This creates additional opportunities to implement control and operating systems in a way that best meets operational requirements.
The project also represents an important milestone as it is the first call-off project under the "iBS 1" framework agreement. This enables future projects, for example those delivered under the ESTW volume contract, to procure the iBS required for modern interlocking operation efficiently. The successful commissioning at Ihrhove underlines the ongoing development of digital control and operating systems and demonstrates how future operating concepts can be adapted flexibly to different operational requirements.
