While farmers outside are demonstrating against cuts to their diesel subsidies, the railway in Cottbus has reason to celebrate. With the new maintenance depot, at least some progress is being made in this area, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the opening ceremony.
The maintenance depot in Cottbus is part of a structural transformation being driven forward in the region with public funding, and will create 1,200 new jobs by 2026. In times of lamentation, this is an important contribution, according to Scholz. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Brandenburg's Minister-President Dietmar Woidke, and DB CEO Richard Lutz jointly opened the nearly 450-meter-long workshop, where heavy maintenance of DB's ICE 4 fleet will be carried out.
As part of its "Strong Rail" corporate strategy, DB is continuously expanding its ICE fleet. A total of around 450 ICE trains of various series are expected to be in operation by the end of the decade. More trains also require more maintenance capacity. With innovative technology, the new depot in Cottbus ensures that the trains are quickly returned to service.
Photos: DB
Woidke: "The opening of the railway maintenance depot is a milestone in strengthening the structure of our Lusatia region: We are creating new and future-proof jobs before the phase-out of coal-fired power generation." During heavy maintenance, the trains are partially disassembled, and heavy components such as traction motors or bogies are replaced. Another hall with a total of four tracks is already under construction on the depot site. It is scheduled to go into operation in 2026.
Modern technology and automation ensure more efficient and simpler workflows in the depot, accelerating maintenance processes and relieving the workload of employees: The two maintenance tracks are elevated, providing easy access to the side panels and wheelsets of the trains. Specially developed bogie changers are integrated into the hall floor. These allow the heavy bogies to be moved laterally out from under the train for further processing.
Augmented reality glasses make it possible to bring in technicians and engineers from other locations "online," with tips and instructions displayed directly in the field of vision.
