en.Wedoany.com Reported - German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) has completed the modernization of 70 train stations as part of its "Station for the Future" program. DB has already achieved more than half of its 2026 target, with around 130 stations expected to be upgraded to new quality standards by then.
The program aims to coordinate station upgrades by applying uniform standards for comfort, accessibility, and integration with the urban environment. Modernized stations feature improved waiting areas, better weather protection, new furniture, modern lighting, more efficient passenger information systems, and connections to other modes of transport. The 70th station to be completed is Berlin Olympiastadion, a key regional transport hub in the German capital, heavily used during major sports and cultural events. DB stated, "A station for the future means moving away from piecemeal solutions and toward standardized construction, ensuring consistently high-quality, attractive stations. This new approach has proven effective," said Philipp Nagl, CEO of German railway infrastructure company DB InfraGO AG.
The station's modernization included restoring protected historical structures, preserving architectural elements inspired by the site's history, and restoring the original "Olympiastadion" lettering on a pedestrian bridge built in the 1960s. Additionally, modern passenger information displays, new station signage, energy-efficient LED lighting, and new furniture in waiting areas were installed. These efforts aim to increase capacity and improve passenger flow during large events such as football matches or concerts. The Federal Ministry of Transport provided €2.2 million for the modernization of Berlin Olympiastadion station. Claudia Elif Stutz, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, said: "At the Olympiastadion S-Bahn station, DB InfraGO is implementing the goals set out in the 'Agenda for Satisfied Rail Passengers': stations must be more attractive, more efficient, and developed in an integrated manner so that every journey can begin as pleasantly as possible. This applies especially to cleanliness, safety, and accessibility."
The modernization of train stations is part of DB InfraGO's new strategy, which views stations as complete complexes encompassing buildings, rail areas, and surrounding spaces. To this end, the company is working more closely with local authorities, including through the "Competence Center for Station Squares and Related Mobility," established in 2024. This new strategy benefits from amendments to German legislation on railway infrastructure financing. Through the revised Federal Railway Infrastructure Development Act (BSWAG) of 2024, DB's station buildings have been reintegrated into public financing mechanisms. German authorities estimate that by 2035, DB InfraGO will modernize approximately 1,000 stations using the same model. Previously, the company completed modernization of 113 stations in 2024 and 124 in 2025, continuously expanding its network of stations for the future.
