Hamburg/Kiefersfelden/Freilassing, Germany, January 13, 2026. The German section of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor (‘ScanMed’), about 4,500 kilometers long in total, is one of the most important railroad tracks in Europe. The central north-south route links Denmark to Austria and connects important metropolitan areas from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean corridor. DB InfraGo is the infrastructure firm of the German national railway company Deutsche Bahn AG (DB). With the aim of strengthening efficiency, safety and cooperation in European rail transport, Deutsche Bahn’s infrastructure manager is equipping the rail line with the European Train Control System (ETCS) and modern railroad control technology. The experts of Drees & Sommer SE support DB InfraGO with their expertise in multi-project coordination, and deadline and risk management. The consulting company specializes in real estate and infrastructure projects.
The ScanMed corridor is one of Germany’s largest digital transformation projects, with over 30,000 control units and a comprehensive number of digital control centers and technical facilities. The ETCS expansion along this central axis not only reinforces German rail infrastructure: “The upgrade also improves cooperation with European rail transport companies,” says André Schulz, who has overall responsibility for the ScanMed project management office. “The goal is to standardize technical interfaces between trains and infrastructure throughout Europe, and so to ensure interoperability,” he adds. This also increases operational safety and, together with other modern technologies, boosts operational capacity in the medium term due to shorter signal headways, while also reducing the number of outdoor facilities.
Digital Systems for More Efficient Railroad Operations
The train control system ETCS replaces traditional lineside signals with in cab digital displays. A centralized control center monitors the positions of the trains in real time, gives operating instructions and can precisely control the capacity utilization of individual sections of track. This allows the network to be used more efficiently without compromising on safety. In addition to ETCS, modern signaling technology and the integrated control and operating system form the backbone of the digital equipment.
André Schulz explains: “Modern interlocking systems are gradually replacing older types of system. They transmit control commands via fiber optic cable to switches and signals and communicate through standardized, IP-based interfaces. This means that, in future, components from different manufacturers can be combined in one system. In this way, we promote competition between providers. In a long-term perspective, this will result in more cost-efficient and future-proof solutions.“
Collaboration across Sectors as a Key Success Factor
To ensure that mammoth projects – such as the modernization of the ScanMed corridor – succeed, DB InfraGo is relying more and more on cross-sector partnership models. Through the ‘Digital Rail Germany’ program, the industry is pooling its knowledge to create a digitally interconnected rail network from many individual technical solutions. Drees & Sommer project head Nils Johannsen and his team monitor the compliance with deadlines, coordinate subprojects and ensure a smooth interaction between all trades. The infrastructure expert comments: “Collaboration brings enormous added value if the government, research institutes, industrial firms and transport companies are involved in the project at an early stage. Their broad spectrum of expertise delivers viable solutions in terms of technical feasibility, cost efficiency and political acceptability.”
In his view, managing the project is challenging. “Having many partners means many interfaces. A careful and proper coordination between participants and subprojects is indispensable. So, we support the project management office and the project team with deadline monitoring and risk management services, and we coordinate internal processes. This enhances transparency and very much helps ensure that also large-scale projects, such as the ScanMed corridor, can be completed on time,” the project manager continues.
Leveraging Lessons Learned for Future Projects
The ScanMed project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2035. Knowledge gained from the project can then be incorporated directly into the planning and implementation of further projects. Nils Johannsen points out: “Every infrastructure project has different framework conditions, but a lot of experience can be transferred. Thorough documentation and the analysis of project workflows are essential for this purpose. In this way, we are able to continuously develop our approaches.“