DB renovates Halle–Eichenberg line with 14 ESTW by 2031

On the east-west Halle–Eichenberg route, DB is replacing 33 mechanical and electromechanical signal boxes with 14 electronic interlockings (ESTW), to be controlled from Röblingen am See and Nordhausen. Because the revised Hanover–Berlin construction and traffic concept needs the line as a diversion route in 2027, major works between Lutherstadt Eisleben and Sangerhausen slip by about a year (report of 30 September 2026); the ESTW at Teutschenthal, Röblingen am See and Lutherstadt Eisleben enter service only at the end of January 2027, when the full closure ends on 29 January 2027. The remaining sections follow in stages from June 2028 to 2031 (Lutherstadt Eisleben–Sangerhausen June 2028, Bleicherode Ost–Bernterode 2031). The date is a placeholder: only the year 2031 is given for the last section (LOK Report, 30 Sep 2026).