State-of-the-art signalling and interlocking technology in Middle Franconia: New interlocking in Ansbach replaces technology from the 1960s
On Friday, 6 February 2026, the new interlocking in Ansbach was put into operation. This successfully replaced the two interlockings from 1964 and 1967 in Ansbach and Triesdorf. The new interlocking has the first integrated control and operating system (iLBS) in Bavaria and thus contributes to digitalisation and to increasing the punctuality and reliability of rail operations in the region. The construction work for the commissioning was particularly challenging: snow, ice and frost demanded everything from the project team and the construction companies involved over the past few weeks.
Anyone who has travelled around the Ansbach station area in recent weeks will have noticed the hustle and bustle: Numerous construction teams have been working at a fast pace in freezing temperatures. They have dismantled old signal posts, point machines, track magnets and other technology that had been installed on the sections of track between Leutershausen-Wiedersbach, Ansbach and Wicklesgreuth and between Lehrberg, Ansbach, Triesdorf and Gunzenhausen. The weather in particular was a constant source of new hurdles:
"The massive amount of fresh snow at the start of the closure on 28 January presented the team with major challenges. The changeable conditions with thaw during the day and frost at night as well as icy tracks and difficult visibility conditions due to fog and sleet also repeatedly hindered the construction process," reports Alexander Serdyuk, the responsible project manager at DB InfraGO AG.
Commissioning successful despite difficult weather conditions
The weather conditions posed a particular challenge both during the dismantling of the old technology and during the installation of the new technology – such as signals and point machines. Nevertheless, the new interlocking in Ansbach – together with the technology module in Triesdorf and the newly installed technology along the approximately 44-kilometre route – went into regular operation on Saturday, 7 February. The interlocking also features innovative operating technology: with the first integrated control and operating system (iLBS) in Bavaria, the project is setting standards for the railway operations of tomorrow. Thanks to the standardised operating system, the train traffic controllers in Ansbach not only control the technology module in Triesdorf, but also the reactivated "Hesselbergbahn" railway line between Gunzenhausen and Pleinfeld. The interlocking that went into operation there in October 2025 is also controlled via the iLBS in Ansbach. The new technology enables more precise control and more flexible travelling options. A total of three line sections are now controlled centrally from Ansbach. This means that staff resources can be deployed in a more targeted manner and bottlenecks can be avoided in the long term in view of staff shortages and demographic change. The new, standardised technology also makes a significant contribution to light maintenance.
Due to weather-related challenges in the construction process and the acceptance of the interlocking, commissioning was carried out with support, which was subsequently implemented by the end of last week. The level crossing technology between Gunzenhausen and Triesdorf will be put into operation in stages over the coming weeks. We ask for the understanding of all those affected by the temporary restrictions.
The Ansbach – Triesdorf project is part of the Fast-Track Programme (SLP). The federal government and the EU have provided 500 million euros for modern interlocking technology. In a total of seven projects spread across Germany, Deutsche Bahn is modernising the existing signalling, interlocking and level crossing protection technology and replacing it with new digital interlocking technology. After the project kick-off in 2020, the SLP project Ansbach – Triesdorf was planned and implemented between 2021 and 2026 – including the extension to Gunzenhausen and Pleinfeld. The commissioning originally planned for 2025 had to be adjusted due to unexpected challenges during the project.
"We are delighted that we have now been able to realise this technically very challenging project. The commissioning of the modern interlocking in Ansbach will give the region noticeably more reliable rail technology in the long term," says Dr David Matz, Head of Technology Portfolio South / Southwest at DB InfraGO AG.
