Applying for planning approval for operating facilities of the federal railroads

If you wish to build, modify or dismantle a federal railroad operating facility, you must apply to the Federal Railway Authority (EBA).

If you are planning to build, modify or dismantle railroad operating facilities, you must apply for the relevant permit from the Federal Railway Authority (EBA). The operating facilities include in particular

• Rail tracks
• Engineering structures such as bridges, tunnels, culverts
• Earthworks such as embankments, cuttings, embankments
• Signaling, safety and telecommunications systems
• Railroad stations and stops

Before the construction, modification or dismantling of such a facility, questions must be clarified in the planning procedure, in particular

• Is the project technically feasible?
• Does the planning comply with the applicable regulations and safety standards?
• Is an environmental impact assessment required for the project - and if so, what is the result of the environmental impact assessment?
• Does the project affect public interests?
• Does the project affect the rights or interests of third parties?
• Can the rights of third parties and the public and private interests be fairly balanced?

On this basis, the EBA decides whether the plans for the construction, modification or dismantling of a railroad operating facility are permissible and whether your application can be approved.

The German Bundestag can approve transport infrastructure projects by means of a Measures Act instead of a planning approval decision. A preparatory procedure for approval is carried out before the legislative procedure is initiated. You can apply to the EBA for this.

• Initial application for the issue of a planning permission decision or an application to amend an existing planning permission decision
• Initial application for the implementation of a preparatory procedure or application for the adoption of additional regulations by the authority
• Explanatory report
• General maps and plans
• Site plans
• List of structures and plans
• Land acquisition register and plans
• Site layout and development plans
• Landscape conservation plan
• If necessary, further evidence according to the EBA application documents guidelines

Forms available: Yes
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: No
Personal appearance necessary: No

Online services available: Yes

Applications can only be submitted by the federal railroads.

• Objection to plan waiver
• Action before the administrative court against planning approval decision and planning approval

You can submit your application for a planning approval procedure by post or online.

Apply for planning permission by post:

• Download the form "Antrag auf Erteilung einer planungsrechtlichen Zulassungsentscheidung" or the application form "Vorbereitendes Verfahren nach MgvG mit Beiblatt" from the website of the Federal Railway Authority.
• Complete the application in full and sign it.
• Attach all the necessary documents. You will find a description of the planning documents that you must attach to your application in the Guidelines on Application Documents, the Planning Approval Directive and the EBA's Environmental Guidelines.
• Send the application and the documents to the EBA branch office responsible for the location of the construction project.
• The EBA will check your documents and, if necessary, contact you if further submissions are required.
• If a hearing procedure is to be carried out, you must respond to the comments submitted and objections received as part of the official and public participation process. If a hearing takes place, you must attend it.
• You will receive a notification by post or by handing it over to the authority in which the decision on the planning approval decision is communicated.
• You will also receive a notification of fees by post.
• You pay the fees.

Apply for planning permission online:

• Go to the website of the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de. From there you will be redirected to the federal planning portal. Alternatively, you can access it directly from your browser.
• Log in to your ELSTER company account with your ELSTER certificate.
• The form management system (FMS) will guide you step by step through the required information. Complete the application form in full.
• Upload the required documents as a file. You will find a description of the planning documents that you must attach to your application in the Application documents guide, the Planning Approval Directive and the EBA's environmental guidelines.
• Send the application and the documents to the EBA branch office responsible for the location of the construction project.
• You will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt.
• The remaining procedural steps correspond to the written procedure.
• Instead of being sent by post or delivered to the authority, you can be notified of the decision on the planning approval via the ELSTER company account.
• Instead of being sent by post, you can be notified of the fee notice via the ELSTER business account.

There is no deadline for submitting an application. Individual deadlines may be imposed by the authorities for subsequent submissions or responses.

Die Höhe der Gebühren richtet sich nach der Besonderen Gebührenverordnung Eisenbahn-Bundesamt (EBABGebV). Entweder handelt es sich um eine Festgebühr oder die Höhe bemisst nach Zeitaufwand oder ist abhängig von den Baukosten des Vorhabens.: Fee from 2.900,00 EUR to 4.205.900,00 EUR (Information on cost composition can be found here)

The type of procedure carried out can be changed by the authorities during the ongoing process.