Germany’s rail network ‘to grow by only 34km’ this year

Rail freight association Die Güterbahnen has calculated that the German network will grow by only 34km in 2026, less than in previous years despite record infrastructure spending. It warned that “renovations don’t actually increase the number of trains running on the network”, calling for faster expansion to build the reserves the network needs when other modes falter.

The DB InfraGO network will gain just 34.3km of new or upgraded line this year, around one-thousandth of its total length, according to Die Güterbahnen’s own analysis. The association pointed out that the figure was even less than the 44km added in 2025 and the 48.2km in 2024, despite DB InfraGO and the federal government planning record gross investment of more than €23 billion in the network this year. By comparison, it said, the road network grows by an average of 9,000km a year.

The association said this summer’s prolonged low water on the Rhine and other waterways showed that rail could absorb some traffic at short notice, but also exposed how slowly the network is expanding.

“The low water levels on many rivers since the summer have made it very clear to us why Germany needs a more efficient rail network with reserves. Industry and supply chains must function, even if one mode of transport is only available to a limited extent,” said Peter Westenberger, managing director of Die Güterbahnen. “34 kilometres of new and upgraded track in an entire year is far too little for a country like Germany.”

This story was originally published by RailFreight.com. Read the full story at RailFreight.com →