Smart Infrastructure

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    Deutsche Bahn moves Germany. Every day.

    One railway. Reliable. For everyone.

    Infrastructure

    We operate a 33,400 kilometre-long network with 5,400 stations, which are used by 450 railway companies and 50,000 trains every day.

    Passenger transport

    Every day, more than five million people travel with Deutsche Bahn - in ICE and Intercity trains, in regional express trains or in regional and suburban trains.

    Logistics

    DB Cargo replaces around 80,000 lorry journeys across Europe each day, offering a climate-friendly alternative.

    The immediate action programmes for a better railway.

    More efficient, more reliable and determined to permanently and noticeably improve quality for passengers.

    The modernisation of the infrastructure takes time. We are implementing three immediate action programmes so that customers can see that things are improving at DB: for improved cleanliness and security at our stations. For greater comfort on long-distance services. For a better customer information. For these three programmes, we are investing a total of more than 140 million euros in DB in 2026 alone.  

    Even cleaner trains and ever more reliable service in our dining cars make train journeys even more comfortable and attractive. 

    Increased presence of security staff, additional cleaning and quick repairs at railway stations ensure that people enjoy their stay and get to their trains in comfort.  

    In future, DB will provide customers with even better information before and during their journey - both on the train, at the station and in digital information channels. 
    Sensors on track

    Maintenance on Germany's some 33,000 kilometer railway network is highly complex. It used to be impossible to predict when components or systems would fail and need to be serviced or repaired. DB is now increasingly able to gain more information thanks to smart sensors and artificial intelligence, which make predictive maintenance possible.

    Smart solutions like these have the potential to reduce disruptions to operations in the network, which are responsible for around one-third of all delays.

    Smart switches: DIANA

    Thanks to the diagnostics and analysis platform (DIANA), DB is now connecting its switches to a switch heart monitor. Sensors report whenever something is wrong with switch turnout. This is visible from the power consumption. If the curve looks different than normal, maintenance technicians can identify even the smallest signs of a deviation on the screens of their mobile and stationary terminal devices at a very early stage. This makes it possible to cut faults with switches by up to 50%, which translates into better quality and punctuality. By may 2020, 28,000 switches will be equipped with switch drive diagnostics and connected to DIANA. Looking forward, the platform offers numerous further opportunities for diagnostics applications.  

    Sensors the size of a USB stick monitor the motor current of switches
    Sensors the size of a USB stick monitor the motor current of switches

    KONUX: perfect bearer positioning for fast trains

    KONUX, a startup established at the Technical University of Munich in 2014, has been working with Deutsche Bahn on getting a system for measuring and analyzing the bearer displacement in high-speed transport ready for series production. Displacement refers to space in the ballast underneath the bearer. If the load of trains traveling on the tracks cause ties to sink too much, more ballast needs to be added. 

    The sensor measures ballast displacement.
    The sensor measures ballast displacement.

    In the future, KONUX sensors will be able to take measurements at switches where trains pass through at over 160 km/h. The analysis algorithms used will detect different fault patterns and monitor the impact of trains and rails directly at the tie. The startup has also enhanced its system so that KONUX and DIANA data can be combined and environmental data, such as temperature, can be added. The idea is for new algorithms and artificial intelligence in the "Smart Point" system to identify and predict most switch failures. The system evaluates the health condition of switches using a number of parameters, such as vibration, motor current, and switch heater temperature, and uses vibration and additional train data to evaluate the dynamic impact of wear on switches caused by trains. Looking at the switch as a complete technical system makes it possible to plan extensive predictive maintenance and contributes to reliable, on-time rail operations. Using the innovative DIANA and KONUX solutions could prevent up to 10% of disruptions in the rail network.

     Fiber Optic Sensing

    Fiber optic sensing (FOS) makes sure that DB has its ear to the ground, or more specifically, to the tracks. Fiber optic sensors work a little like a microphone that records noise along a rail line using optical fibers. Light pulses are sent along fiber optic cables next to the line – around 2,500 per second over a distance of 40 kilometers. Sound waves, such as those produced by a train, cause micro distortions in the fiber optic cables, which deflect the light. These light deflections are compared with acoustic fingerprints of different types of influence, which are stored in a database. It is possible to determine what happened and where, down to ten meters. FOS will make it possible for DB to better handle external influences such as cable theft and landslides at an even earlier stage. What's more, the data provides information about the condition of the infrastructure, rolling stock, and the location and speed of trains. And that information not only helps with predictive maintenance; it can also be used for customer information and travelling comfort.