Rebuilding the Dresdner Bahn (Berlin-Südkreuz–Blankenfelde) 

Opened in 1875, the Dresdner Bahn runs from Berlin-Südkreuz station via the German capital’s Marienfelde and Lichtenrade neighborhoods to the border with Brandenburg. From here, it passes through Mahlow and Blankenfelde on its way to Dresden. This makes the Dresdner Bahn part of the European Rail Freight Corridor Orient/East-Med, which links key strategic North and Baltic Sea ports with the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Sections of the original Dresdner Bahn were dismantled in the wake of the Second World War and the subsequent division of Germany.

The railroad is currently being rebuilt to meet the demands of modern local, regional and long-distance rail travel. The project aims to enhance the overall performance of the route, cut journey times and improve the connection between Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and the city of Dresden. 

As part of the upgrade work, two new electrified long-distance lines are being built to the east of the existing S-Bahn commuter track. These lines will be equipped with a catenary system to also enable regional and long-distance trains to use the route in future. The new infrastructure will allow the lines to be used by all categories of train simultaneously. Part of the S-Bahn line will need to be shifted to the west to accommodate long-distance trains. It will continue to run with a double track to Lichtenrade and a single track to Blankenfelde. Blankenfelde S-Bahn station is being relocated to the south and equipped with a combined platform to enable transfers with regional services. 

Construction of the new long-distance lines will in future allow speeds of up to 160 km/h within Berlin’s urban area and 200 km/h from the Brandenburg border onwards. This will cut journey times between Berlin and Dresden by around 10 minutes once the route is operational. Passengers will also be able to reach Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) in just 20 minutes from Berlin Central Station once the planned airport shuttle is in service, with trains running every 15 minutes on the Dresdner Bahn line. This will be made possible by the construction of the new double-track north-east curve and its integration into the Berlin Outer Ring. 

Due to the planned speed increase, all nine railroad crossings on the line are being replaced by rail or tram overpasses. This will improve road and rail safety, cut waiting times and reduce noise and emissions.

Work is also being carried out to renew or extend nine existing bridges. Extensive sound-dampening measures are being put in place to shield local residents from excessive noise. These include installation of noise barriers and sound-insulating windows, and use of the specially monitored track for reducing noise emissions. Local residents will be protected from vibrations through the construction of a special kind of permanent way (noise-reducing concrete ballasted track). 

Construction is being carried out in four planning approval sections. Initial preparatory measures for construction were implemented back in October 2017. The main construction work began officially in February 2019. The DB E&C team has been involved in this key project for many years, providing extensive support with design, construction supervision, design review and acceptance testing, serving as certified designer, and delivering environmental and geoservices. At overall level, the Dresdner Bahn upgrade project will relieve pressure on Berlin’s rail junctions (elimination of capacity shortage situation on the Anhalter Bahn) and lay the foundation for a future-proof, high-performance rail network. 

Project data

• Restoration of the double-track long-distance line 
• Considerable reduction in travel time between Berlin – Dresden/South East Europe 
• Ensuring a high-quality airport shuttle service between Berlin Central Station and Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) 
• Elimination of the capacity shortage on the Anhalter Bahn following commissioning of German Unity Transport Project 8 
• Construction projects: 
  • Construction of one new double-track electrified long-distance line approx. 16 km in length 
  • Construction of 15 new rail overpasses 
  • Construction of one new road overpass (Buckower Chaussee) 
  • Construction of five new pedestrian underpasses 
  • Retrofitting and modification of Buckower Chaussee station with four spacious and accessible entrances 
  • Construction of new Lichtenrade station with island platform and two spacious and accessible entrances 
  • Construction of new Blankenfelde station with side platform for regional trains, island platform for regional and S-Bahn trains, and two spacious and accessible entrances 
  • Construction of new double-track north-east curve and integration into the Berlin Outer Ring 
  • Construction of two new ESTW-A electronic signal boxes for long-distance line 
  • Connecting Berlin-Südkreuz station to the Dresdner Bahn line will require a switch from Simis C to Simis D signaling technology (signal foundations, cable earthworks, cable laying) 
  • Installation of noise barriers 
  • Upgrade/retrofitting of ETCS planned from 2029 in conjunction with Berlin–Dresden line upgrade 

Scope of services

• Construction supervision 
  • Specialist and contractual construction supervision for structural engineering/superstructure, control-command and signaling, catenary systems and 50 Hz 
  • Construction supervision services in accordance with the administrative regulations governing construction control for construction engineering, permanent way and building construction, and with the administrative regulations governing construction control for signaling, telecommunications and electrotechnical systems 
  • Rail operations services and safety monitoring 
  • Services in accordance with Construction Site Ordinance (health and safety coordinator) 
  • Waste management 
  • Construction implementation planning/submission of operations and construction regulations application 
  • Environmental construction supervision in accordance with German Federal Railway Authority Guidelines 
  • Geotechnical construction supervision (countercheck inspections) 
  • Surveying services (control surveying) 
• Design 
  • Preliminary design from 2002 as Dresdner Bahn design consortium 
  • Preliminary design from 2006 to 2017 as ING Dresdner Bahn (Vössing and DE Consult/DB International), completed in 2017 following several revisions due to modifications 
  • Call for tenders between 2016 and 2019 
  • First sets of construction drawings between 2017 and 2025 
  • Certified designer services between 2019 and 2026