A major project in Frankfurt's local transport system is moving forward, but will demand a great deal of patience from commuters in particular for some time to come - especially next summer: the expansion of the S6 line is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023. Passengers will then be able to travel on the S-Bahn over its own tracks and thus separately from long-distance and regional trains more punctually and at regular 15-minute intervals. Progress is clearly visible: The rail embankment between Frankfurt (West) and Bad Vilbel has now been widened on ten of its 13 kilometers to such an extent that two additional rail tracks can be built on it. In addition, Deutsche Bahn (DB) has built 1.5 kilometers of retaining walls in recent years, renewed the overhead lines over a length of about 20 kilometers, lifted four new auxiliary bridges, completed three bridges and started construction on another five.
The first new tracks are also already in operation: DB completed two and a half kilometers of track between Eschersheim and Frankfurt (Main) West back in August 2020. Since then, trains no longer run there on the old track, but on a newly built, additional track. The first of the two existing tracks could thus be taken out of service and converted to make room for the new Ginnheim stop. At the same time, DB began construction of the fourth track. This work has been completed since last summer.
Due to the confined space along the rail line and in order to interfere as little as possible with ongoing rail operations, almost the entire four-track line expansion is taking place in complex partial stages. After all, DB is not only building the new tracks in a confined space in the middle of a major city. Rather, the line will continue to be used by around 300 trains every day. In order to restrict travelers as little as possible despite the demanding construction workload, Deutsche Bahn continues to aim to build "under the rolling wheel" and to concentrate closures of the line as far as possible during the summer vacations.
A summer closure break is again scheduled for 2022. The focus of the work this year is on the section of track between Frankfurter Berg and Bad Vilbel. In the summer, DB will not only be removing the embankment and erecting the necessary retaining walls, but will also be installing the two new mainline tracks over a length of around eight kilometers. In addition, overhead line work, the return and new construction of switches and the construction of noise barriers are on the program.
For this purpose, it is necessary to completely close the line for eight weeks from July 9 to September 5. While the trains of the regional and long-distance traffic drive over detours, the S-Bahn sets up a rail replacement service with buses for the passengers of the S6 during this time.
Restrictions due to the construction work expect the travelers already four weeks before the total closure. From June 13 to July 9, train service can only take place on a single track. The S-Bahn will then continue to run. However, there will be deviations from the usual timetable.
On March 18, 2022, DB plans to finally close the two level crossings with barriers at Berkersheimer Bahnstraße in Berkersheim and at Berkersheimer Weg on Frankfurter Berg. In Eschersheim, the level crossing at Lachweg is expected to close permanently on July 10, 2022.
In order to inform local people about this and about the further progress of the construction work, DB is offering digital information events on March 10, 15 and 17. The events will begin at 5 p.m. in each case. Dial-in details are available at www.s6-frankfurt-friedberg.de. DB project staff will present the current status of the work, take notes and answer questions. Registration is not required.
Construction work on the "Own tracks for the S6" rail project began in 2017. Since then, two new additional tracks for the S-Bahn have been built between Frankfurt (West) and Bad Vilbel. At the same time, DB is building eight new rail, road, sidewalk and bike path overpasses, a completely new stop in Ginnheim and 19 kilometers of noise barriers. Once this first construction phase is up and running at the end of next year, the line between Bad Vilbel and Friedberg will be upgraded. The approval process is currently underway for this second part of the project.
The "Own tracks for the S6" rail project is part of the Frankfurt RheinMainplus infrastructure development program, which is being jointly promoted by the federal government, the state of Hesse, the city of Frankfurt am Main, the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund and DB AG for the mobility turnaround. For more information, visit: www.FRMplus.de
