photo: DB /DB train
A joint declaration was signed that commits these two partners to • have experts develop solutions for faster construction • find new ways to find skilled workers with online platform 1stieg.de • have partners focus on transparency and fair competition
In a joint declaration, Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the construction industry association have agreed to work closely together as equals to help shape the successful implementation of a climate-friendly mobility revolution and the associated shift of traffic onto the railway. In addition to DB, the declaration was signed by the Federal Association of Medium-sized Construction Companies (BVMB), the Main Association of the German Construction Industry (HDB), the Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB), and the German Association for Noise Protection on Transport Routes (DVLV).
The foundation to this is the planned record investment by the German federal government and DB of at least 170 billion euros in rail infrastructure by 2030. The funds will get used to renew the existing network, build new rail lines, expand existing ones, and implement stages of the Deutschlandtakt and Digitale Schiene Deutschland. Both parties want to achieve the optimal usage capacity of the increase in funds and the associated opportunities for the expansion of efficient rail infrastructure. DB and the construction industry representatives have agreed on basic principles which in addition to a high level of transparency regarding the planned construction volume are intended above all to ensure fair competition in tender procedures with DB's own Bahn Group. These facts are important to the entire construction industry.
At the same time, the partners and other companies in the construction industry agreed to continue the "Future Initiative for Railway Construction" (ZIB). More than 100 experts from rail construction companies, associations, and DB are working together on cross-project solutions for capacity-saving construction, attracting skilled workers, climate protection, and improving the quality of the rail network. A key concern is to implement infrastructure projects more efficiently and more quickly and thus significantly advance the transformation of the transport system.
Ronald Pofalla, Member of DB's Board of Management responsible for Infrastructure: "In the coming years, we will have a historically high amount of money at our disposal for more efficient rail infrastructure. In close cooperation with the construction industry, we are ensuring that we can implement construction projects for our customers even faster and better. For more climate-friendly rail traffic, we are relying on transparency, fair competition, and dialog."
The CEOs of the construction associations are unanimous: "The challenges of developing a future-proof and sustainable rail infrastructure require the construction industry to make steady investments to secure and build capacity and develop innovations. Strengthening cooperation and trust between DB and the construction industry are important steps in this regard, which now also have a solid foundation in the joint declaration."
The www.1stieg.de platform
To attract the additional skilled mechanics needed for rail construction, DB and the construction industry association have developed the online platform www.1stieg.de. It provides an overview of the entire rail construction industry, job profiles, entry-level and career opportunities. It is aimed not only at potential job seekers, but also at parents, schools, universities, and career counselors. With a joint recruiting cooperation, the partners are looking for new employees for track construction, and assembly, in several European countries.