PORR begins construction of key tunnel section for Munich’s second S-Bahn line

PORR has entered the construction phase of a major section of Munich’s second S-Bahn trunk line after DB InfraGO AG exercised the construction option for contract package VE734, marking the transition from planning to execution on one of Germany’s largest transport infrastructure projects.

The contract covers the eastern section of the new tunnel between Munich Ostbahnhof and the Berg-am-Laim-Straße crossing. PORR said its share of the project is valued in the triple-digit million-euro range.

The company will deliver specialist foundation engineering, structural and civil engineering works, road construction, excavation pits, groundwater management systems and other associated infrastructure required for the project.

Karl-Heinz Strauss, CEO of PORR AG, said the start of construction represents an important step in expanding Munich’s transport network, adding that the company will work alongside Deutsche Bahn and its project partners to deliver one of Germany’s most significant rail infrastructure investments.

Construction includes the development of Emergency Shaft 9, a structure approximately 65 metres long that will serve both as an emergency access point for future railway operations and as the launch shaft for tunnel excavation. PORR will also construct a 55-metre cross structure using the cut-and-cover method, allowing road traffic to continue during construction. Additional works include ground improvement, groundwater control and related civil engineering activities.

PORR was originally awarded the first project development phase for contract packages two and three in April 2025 under Deutsche Bahn’s Rail Partnership Model. During the collaborative planning stage, the project partners jointly developed the construction methodology, project schedule, cost targets and risk management framework before the client approved the transition to full construction.

Munich’s second S-Bahn trunk line is one of Germany’s largest rail infrastructure projects. The new route will extend approximately 11 kilometres between Laim and Leuchtenbergring, including a seven-kilometre tunnel beneath the city centre. Once completed, it is intended to relieve congestion on the existing S-Bahn corridor, increase network capacity and improve rail services across the Munich metropolitan region.

PORR said the project will continue to be delivered through the alliance-based partnership model established during the development phase, combining the expertise of its civil engineering, specialist foundation engineering and groundwater management teams in Germany and Austria.