World of PORR 161/2012 PORR Updates Another big contract for PORR in the German high- speed rail network New confirmation of competence in the infrastructure sector. As part of the German Unity Transport Project VDE 8 Nuremberg-Berlin, in November 2012 Porr Bau GmbH was awarded a further contract by DB Netz AG, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn AG, for the equipping of a topped-out new- build section between Coburg and Ilmenau. The ballastless track system “Slab Track Austria – System ÖBB-PORR elastisch gelagerte Gleistragplatte” (elastically encased sleepers) with its proven 23-year record will likewise be deployed over some 44 km of high-speed section. There are a total of 13 valley bridges and 12 tunnels in the section. The total contract volume of around EUR 100 million is to be spent in the core building period from July 2013 to December 2014. The entire VDE 8 section between Berlin and Munich is scheduled to come into operation in 2017 – the travel time between the two cities will then be about 4 hours. The contract volume also includes the erection of around 14 km of noise barriers. Increased installation of this proven system began in Germany in 2001 with the project “Lehrter Hauptbahnhof Berlin”, Berlin’s central station, in 2001. The Coburg-Ilmenau subsection is a follow-up contract to the section VDE 8.2 “Erfurt–Gröbers” already awarded to Porr Bau GmbH in 2011. Here the ballastless track has been in the process of installation over some 90 km of two-track section since June 2012. Chairman of the Management Board at PORR AG, Ing. Karl- Heinz Strauss, sees great potential in the system: “‘Slab Track Austria’ has already proven to be excellent in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. In view of these positive references I look forward to further big international contracts.” Page 1.