Flensburg – Maschen
The core of the project is to equip the Flensburg – Maschen section with ETCS Level 2. 249 kilometers of track will be equipped with modern control and safety technology. The aim is to make the line passable with ETCS from Denmark to Europe's largest marshalling yard in Maschen.
Project duration
Route data
| Line from | Flensburg |
|---|---|
| Line to | Maschen |
| Kilometers of line to be equipped | 249 km |
| Route number(s) | 1040, 1220, 1234, 1255, 1259, 1280, 1720, 2200 |
Planned actions
| ETCS | Level 2 with signals |
|---|---|
| Interlocking(s) | |
| Scope of equipment | |
| Planned speed | 160 km/h |
Contact
Disclaimer
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.
Seamless and cross-border rail transport is crucial for both Germany’s economy and a strong European single market. However, Europe’s existing rail network uses different train control systems, which currently prevents continuous rail operations across national borders.
To address this, the main railway corridors of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T corridors) are being progressively equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS). ETCS ensures that trains can operate safely and consistently across different countries thanks to uniform technical standards. To advance European integration, the European Union has mandated the rollout of ETCS on all TEN-T corridors through 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.
Specifically, a rail section of 249 kilometres – from Flensburg via Neumünster, Eidelstedt, Rothenburgsort, and Hamburg-Harburg to Maschen – will be equipped with ETCS L2mS, divided into six construction sections. In a first phase, the six existing relay interlockings will be replaced by state-of-the-art electronic interlockings (ESTW). 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.
Work started on the first, 90-kilometre section between Flensburg and Nortorf on 31 August 2024. During this phase, approximately 330 kilometres of cable will be installed, 180 new signals set up, and six level crossings modernised. In addition, in this first section, four of the six relay interlockings (located in Schleswig, Owschlag, Rendsburg, and Osterrönfeld) will be replaced with modern interlocking technology. In the following phase, the section is scheduled to be equipped with ETCS by the end of 2028. This will include the construction of an ETCS control centre (Radio Block Centre: RBC) and the installation of around 1,075 balises.
The project continues to make progress: on 17 October 2025, construction began on the second section between Nortorf and Wrist. Over the next few months, key parts of the rail infrastructure will be upgraded over a distance of 36 kilometres. In the first phase, about 113 kilometres of cable will be laid and 55 signals renewed. The interlockings in Nortorf, Neumünster, and Brokstedt will be technically upgraded and fitted with ETCS-compatible equipment. The current relay interlocking in Wrist will be replaced by a new, modern system. In total, approximately 1,200 ETCS balises will be installed in this section.
Bauende Bahn
This is a Deutsche Bahn project. We are building. So that people can build on us again. More information about the Bauende Bahn can be found here (in German only).
