Digitalisation is revolutionising the planning process. Through its targeted use in the realisation of complex large-scale projects, it is possible to visualise different planning variants at an early stage, standardise processes, create transparency, achieve realistic risk calculation and significantly reduce construction times and costs. Networking the subsections at an early stage should ensure closely interlinked cooperation and communication between all those involved. In contrast, the current planning of railway infrastructure projects according to the four planning phases of the HOAI is often time-consuming and does not fully utilise the potential of digital tools and processes in some areas. In many cases, it is even still based on completely paper-based documentation.

DB InfraGO AG plans to change this as quickly as possible and systematically convert the current planning phases 0 to 4 of the HOAI into digitally supported single-phase planning. A new type of planning that streamlines processes through the consistent use of digital methods and processes, avoids planning errors and ensures a smooth planning process based on digital infrastructure data. The aim is to accelerate construction projects through the digital planning process and the use of BIM methodology.

Digital Rail Germany is equipping up to 5,000 kilometres of track with ETCS technology as part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor (ScanMed) starter package project. The aim is to ensure an interoperable, cross-border rail network in future. In this context, DB InfraGO AG came up with the idea of single-phase planning, which was to be developed by the experts from NEXTRAIL and CERRS. To this end, the current actual process was recorded by NEXTRAIL and the required single-phase planning was derived and simulated. In addition, NEXTRAIL demonstrated the effects of using the data and tools as part of the simulation using two operating stations in the Halle network district and identified optimisation options. Recommendations were developed to ensure that an end-to-end digital process is created. This is to be put into practice through a high degree of coordination, synergetic cooperation and a project organisation geared towards this.