Flensburg – Maschen

The dates shown are legally non-binding forecasts based on the current status. The forecasts are in no way intended to establish any kind of legal claim whatsoever that completion will take place by the specified date and that use will be possible. For these reasons, the information should also not be used to make or prepare business decisions, for example, but not conclusively, with regard to the vehicle equipment or the compatibility between the vehicles and the infrastructure. If you have any questions, particularly regarding technical network access or obtaining binding information, please contact your customer advisor.

Most of the infrastructure projects are still in the planning phase, which means that the information provided on these pages reflects the current planning status and is updated regularly.

Smooth and cross-border (rail) transport is of central importance for the economy in Germany and for a common European internal market. However, the existing rail network in Europe is equipped with different train control systems and does not currently allow for consistent traffic across national borders.

For this reason, the lines of the Trans-European Transport Network corridors (TEN-T corridors) are being equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS). ETCS is based on the harmonization of the European railroad system using the technical specifications for the interoperability of the train control, train protection and signalling subsystem. In order to promote European unification, the European Union has committed to equipping the TEN corridors with ETCS by 2030 via the European Deployment Plan (EDP).

One of these corridors is the ScanMed TEN corridor (Scandinavian – Mediterranean). The Flensburg – Maschen project will establish consistent trafficability of the Denmark – Maschen section with ETCS Level 2 with signals (ETCS L2mS). The project is an extension of the ETCS equipment on the German-Danish border from the separate Padborg – Flensburg project. Upgrading the existing control and safety technology to the uniform European standard will enable Europe's largest marshalling yard in Maschen to be connected to an interoperable European rail network.

In detail, a line of 216 km – divided into a total of six sections – in the Flensburg – Neumünster – Eidelstedt – Rothenburgsort – Hamburg-Harburg – Maschen area will be equipped with ETCS L2mS. For the equipment, the existing six relay interlockings will be replaced by electronic interlockings (ESTW) in an initial construction phase. The existing ESTW control centers and ESTW sub-centers in Flensburg, Neumünster, Elmshorn, Eidelstedt, Rothenburgsort, Wilhelmsburg and Harburg as well as the corresponding ESTW outdoor systems and all corresponding operator stations will also be upgraded with regard to the use of ETCS. In the second construction phase, the respective equipment will be fitted with ETCS L2mS, enabling consistent trafficability across the national border.

On 31 August 2024, work began on the first 90 km section between Flensburg and Nortorf. In the first construction phase, around 330 km of cable will be laid, 180 new signals will be installed and six level crossings will be renewed. In addition, four relay interlockings (in Schleswig, Owschlag, Rendsburg and Osterrönfeld) of the total of six relay interlockings will be replaced by ESTW technical modules in this first section. In the subsequent second construction phase, the section is expected to be equipped with ETCS by the end of 2027. This will include the construction of an ETCS control centre (Radio Block Centre, RBC) and the installation of around 1,075 balises.