DB first tested the effects of rail painting at a test site in Königsborn, Saxony-Anhalt, over summer and decided to extend the project to rails on the 812m-long Pfieffetal bridge. The one-year test will examine the wear and durability of the environmentally-friendly paint, as well as the effectiveness over long distances, with the results leading into a possible extension of the project along other routes.

Pfieffetal bridge

Hot weather, which is becoming more prevalent due to climate change, can often cause rails to buckle or twist as the steel expands.

DB says it selected the 61m-high Pfieffetal bridge near Melsungen, Hesse, due to the high frequency of traffic which passes over it. The track and structure is also exposed to high levels of solar radiation throughout the year. The double-track bridge also allows a direct comparison, with one track painted while the other has been left untreated.