Emergency Repair Works

On 12 October 2018, due to a technical defect, an ICE train caught fire on the high-speed line 2690 Cologne–Rhine-Main (constructed in 2001) between Cologne and Frankfurt/Main. To minimize the impact of the fire and disruption to the timetable, both tracks at the accident site had to be renewed immediately along with associated works.

DB Netz AG initiated cleanup and repair work on the very first day of the accident. By 20 October 2018, when the construction site was handed over to our company, most fire residues had been removed. The accident site (emergency track Üst Willroth – Montabaur, service road, ditch/slope) was limited to 20 m. Burn and oil traces as well as other substances were clearly visible in this section. The high temperatures had deformed the rails, and unremoved burnt remains of the ICE train were still present. On the adjacent track Montabaur – Üst Willroth, recovery works had been completed, support structures installed, and 60 m of rail replaced.

The emergency works were divided into two phases of equal length: During the first two weeks, a construction road was built, fire residues and contaminated materials cleared, 60 m of Slab Track renewed in cooperation with Rhomberg Bahntechnik GmbH due to fire damage and contamination, 120 m of rail replaced, and the service road, side ballast, and slope renewed. The neighboring track was used as an operational line with a 40 km/h speed restriction during the day and as a logistics track at night.

Subsequently, the opposite track was renewed with the same scope of works for 13 m of track.

• Coordination of various trades and third parties
• Site setup and clearance
• Site safety
• Surveying services
• Power shutdowns
• Vegetation clearance
• Construction of access road
• Clearance of accident area from fire residues, including protective measures with foil and tarpaulin due to contamination
• Anchoring of existing track and exposed construction field
• Concrete cutting works, including breaking up and dismantling
• Removal and renewal of ballast, service road, and slope, including protective measures with foil and separation by contamination risk
• Construction of Slab Track, Rheda 2000 system, including cleaning of concrete slab, sleeper installation, track panel assembly, formwork, and concreting
• Replacement of 120 m of rail on the damaged track
• Earthing welds
• Track welding works
• Restoration of overhead line equipment
• Disposal services

• Coordination of various trades
• Logistics planning
• Construction of access road
• Clearance of accident area
• Anchoring of tracks
• Removal and renewal of ballast, service road, and slope
• Construction of Slab Track, Rheda 2000 system, in cooperation with Rhomberg Bahntechnik GmbH, including track panel assembly and concreting
• Rail replacement