Hitachi Rail has been awarded a framework agreement by Deutsche Bahn as part of a €6.3bn (c.£5.25bn) contract finalised at the end of 2024.
The contract includes the provision of digital interlocking technology, European Train Control System (ETCS) digital signalling and an integrated control and operating system (iLBS).
The framework agreement, which has also been signed by other companies, defines the scope of ETCS and iLBS units allocated for various suppliers.
Under the agreement, Hitachi Rail is guaranteed a significant portion of these units, which the company states will enable it to target further investment and to execute current and future projects.
Only holders of such agreements are eligible to participate in the full-scale rollout of digital rail.
READ MORE: TfL’s London investment pays nationwide dividends, report claims
The contract was awarded following a tender process that began July 2023, culminating in the signing December 31, 2024.
Beyond traditional control and signalling technology services, the agreement also includes additional tasks such as planning, civil engineering, and cable laying.
This expansion of responsibilities underscores the complexity of the project, but with extensive experience and expertise, Hitachi Rail is well-positioned to deliver on these commitments.
Chief operation officer at Hitachi Rail Germany and member of the VDB executive committee Markus Fritz said: “As a long-standing partner of Deutsche Bahn, we are delighted to be driving forward the urgently needed renovation and modernisation of the rail infrastructure in our country.
“This is not only crucial for a sustainable turnaround in transport in Germany, but also for a more efficient, pan-European rail network, to which we are making a decisive technological contribution.
“Last but not least, Deutsche Bahn’s volume contract gives us as an industrial sector the long-awaited planning security for the preservation and expansion of our high-quality jobs in one of the world’s most successful high-tech sectors that Germany has to offer.”
Achievements and innovations in rail transport planning will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
