Deutsche Bahn (DB) is investing more than EUR 400 million in a new ICE plant in Dortmund. DB says it will be one of the most modern and climate-friendly railway plants in Europe. The plant is being built on the site of the former freight station in Dortmund-Hafen.
The new ICE plant will create up to 500 new jobs and numerous apprenticeships. The groundbreaking ceremony took place yesterday, earlier than planned. DB Board Member for Long-Distance Passenger Transport Dr. Michael Peterson, Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Norbert Schilff, Mayor of the City of Dortmund, were present.
The ICE fleet will grow from the current 410 to 450 vehicles by the end of the decade. To ensure that the trains remain clean and punctual for passengers in the future, the necessary maintenance capacity is needed. Through the targeted expansion and further digital transformation of the ICE depots, DB is creating the necessary maintenance capacity as part of its S3 renovation program. The new depot will be completed in 2027.
“The new plant is literally being built at ICE speed. This shows once again how, with the cooperation of all those involved, we can quickly get even large projects on track. We have set ourselves ambitious goals at Deutsche Bahn by the end of 2027 to make the railway more reliable again. The new ICE plant is part of this. This is a good day for Dortmund and all our passengers,” said Dr. Michael Peterson, DB Board Member for Long-Distance Passenger Transport.
“Protecting our climate is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Attractive, climate-neutral long-distance rail transport is crucial for the whole of Germany. As the state with the strongest population and economy, North Rhine-Westphalia is an important hub for both freight and passenger transport. Deutsche Bahn’s investment decision for a new ICE maintenance facility in the Ruhr area not only confirms our excellent location conditions in the heart of Europe, it is also an important signal for people and the economy,” added Hendrik Wüst, Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia.
“For me, as a long-time employee of Deutsche Bahn and Mayor of Dortmund, it is a special moment to see this pioneering project in my hometown. The new ICE plant creates jobs, strengthens the economy and represents the innovative strength of our city – a milestone that we can be proud of,” Norbert Schilff, Mayor of Dortmund, said.
Construction to begin this year
Construction of the new ICE plant in Dortmund-Hafen will begin this year, earlier than planned. With investments of more than 400 million euros, DB is giving the region a strong economic boost.
Up to 500 new jobs and numerous positions for trainees will be created in the Ruhr area. This increases NRW’s importance for DB as a whole: four long-distance transport plants, two of which are DB’s most modern, are located in NRW – more than in any other federal state.
Geplantes ICE Werk Dortmund – Visualisierung
The new ICE plant in Dortmund-Hafen in numbers
The new plant includes a four-track, 480-meter-long workshop hall as well as treatment and storage facilities for the maintenance, repair and cleaning of trains. Once completed, up to 17 ICE trains can be serviced and repaired there every day, with a focus on ICE 4, ICE 3 and ICE 3neo. Thanks to the use of renewable energies and smart technical solutions, this will be 100 percent climate-neutral.
This is achieved in particular by building a geothermal plant with an output of around 5,000 MWh per year – which corresponds to the consumption of around 2,400 households – and installing a photovoltaic system on an area of 8,500 m². The latter covers more than half of the company’s own energy needs. 28,000 m², or 60 percent of the roof area, will be greened. This corresponds to an area of four football fields.
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