€500 billion for infrastructure. And what runs on it?
The Special Fund for Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality finances up to €500 billion of additional investment. Approvals must be granted by end-2036.
What that means: the money builds lines, nodes and terminals. The act does not mention vehicles or loading units. This portal puts both in context – the network and what rolls on it.
The figures of the special fund
Europe's timetable for the network
| Year | What must be ready |
|---|---|
| 2027 | market and prospective analysis of multimodal freight terminals (by 19 July) |
| 2030 | core network |
| 2040 | extended core network, 740 m freight trains without special permission, profile for 4 m high semi-trailers |
| 2050 | comprehensive network: fully electrified, 22.5 t axle load, 740 m trains |
What runs on the network
About half of the tonne-kilometres in European rail freight are intermodal. The network is being designed for these assets:
Locomotives
Multi-system locomotives such as the Vectron MS run under four power systems and thus across borders.
More →Carrier wagons
Sgns, Sggrss and pocket wagons such as the T3000e carry containers, swap bodies and semi-trailers.
More →Loading units
Containers and swap bodies move between road, rail and ship without anyone touching the cargo.
More →Frequently asked questions
How much money is available for transport infrastructure?
The SVIKG sets no fixed amount per area. It finances up to €500 billion across nine federal areas, including transport infrastructure, plus €100 billion for the Länder and €100 billion for the Climate and Transformation Fund.
By when must the money be approved?
By 31 December 2036 (SVIKG § 11(1)). For Länder and municipalities, measures are then eligible until end-2042 and payments are possible until end-2043 (LuKIFG §§ 4, 7).
Can private parties be funded?
For Länder and municipalities, funding is provider-neutral. It is also permitted where the administration uses a private party under a contractual partnership (LuKIFG § 3(2) and (3)).
Which projects are excluded?
For Länder and municipalities, measures begun before 1 January 2025 and measures below €50,000 (LuKIFG §§ 3, 4).
How is it monitored?
Federal measures require cost-effectiveness analyses and success controls, ongoing after four and eight years and final after the fund ends (SVIKG § 10).
What does the EU require of rail?
By end-2040, 740 m freight trains are to run on the extended core network without special permission; by end-2050 the comprehensive network is to be fully electrified and allow 22.5 t axle load (Regulation (EU) 2024/1679).
Does the special fund also finance vehicles?
SVIKG and LuKIFG do not mention vehicles. The 2026 economic plan, however, contains an ERTMS line of €2.45 bn for “equipping German infrastructure and rolling stock (trains, wagons)” with the train control system (own translation).
How many corridors will be renewed by 2031?
13 instead of the previous 21. None is cancelled, the others are postponed; the sequence from 2032 follows next year (BMV, 9 Oct 2026).