GCF Group Secures €20 Million Contract with Deutsche Bahn in Germany

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie S.p.A. (GCF), together with its subsidiaries GCF Elettriche and GCF Power, has secured its first contract in Germany with Deutsche Bahn, valued at approximately €20 million, to relocate power supply facilities at the München-Westkreuz railway node, officially entering the German market. This is the first project in the renewal and upgrade of the Munich S-Bahn rail network.

The project is commissioned by DB InfraGO AG, the infrastructure division of Deutsche Bahn, and forms part of the "NeM 13" Complementary Network Measure, aimed at enhancing the Munich suburban rail network in preparation for the commissioning of the second S-Bahn mainline.

GCF CEO Giuseppe Brecciaroli stated that the German market is in a phase of strong growth, with substantial investment in the modernization and upgrade of the national rail network. The fact that GCF, as an industrial group of complementary companies, has been able to enter this market reflects recognition of its expertise, technical capabilities, and the added value of its collaborative working model.

To eliminate the bottleneck at the München-Westkreuz junction, Deutsche Bahn launched construction of the second "Stammstrecke" (main tunnel) in 2024, which runs parallel to and independently of the existing line. Accompanying works initiated at the same time include eliminating level crossings between lines, separating S-Bahn tracks, constructing underpasses and pedestrian and cycle paths, as well as building new railway bridges, tracks, points, and power supply lines.

GCF's core scope involves the refurbishment and renewal of 110 kV high-voltage transmission lines and overhead contact line facilities. The München-Westkreuz junction currently sees the convergence of three major railway lines with heavy passenger and freight traffic, and the highly urbanized nature of the area presents significant logistical challenges for construction. The project includes the supply and installation of combined masts, structures that must simultaneously support the 15 kV contact line system and the 110 kV high-voltage lines, involving complex structural calculations and specific permit approvals.

During construction, the rail network must remain fully operational. To relocate the masts without interrupting the power supply, temporary rerouting solutions and temporary anchoring systems will be employed. Due to working in a sensitive environment, strict soil and water protection measures will be implemented on site, along with continuous noise monitoring to minimize the impact on nearby residential areas. The works also require close coordination with other civil engineering and track renewal contractors, with collaborative logistics management.

The initial works are scheduled to begin in early June and will span several years, with completion expected in 2030. The project aims to increase capacity, support new S-Bahn express services and a 15-minute service frequency, improve punctuality by eliminating train conflicts and reducing delay propagation, and enhance the reliability of the western hub of the entire S-Bahn network.

With the commissioning of the second Stammstrecke in 2035, Deutsche Bahn, the City of Munich, the Free State of Bavaria, and the federal government plan to make the S-Bahn system more efficient and reliable, and to shift a greater share of traffic to a modernized and environmentally sustainable rail network. GCF Group stated that it will contribute to this process by leveraging its expertise accumulated in international railway infrastructure construction.