Ingolstadt Rail Bridge, Steel composite railway bridge in Ingolstadt, Germany

Ingolstadt Rail Bridge carries the Munich–Treuchtlingen line over the Danube on three parallel superstructures: two older lattice truss bridges on the east and a steel-composite trough bridge built in 1999–2001 on the west. The 184 m structure has spans of 13.42, 19.00, 22.30, 55.15, 54.72 and 19.50 m, with piers 4–6 m high. Along the trough edges, steel longitudinal girders of varying depth rise and fall in a wave, giving the impression of sails.

The first railway bridge here was built in 1868–1869 for the Munich–Gunzenhausen line, designed by Heinrich Gerber as three iron parallel-chord trusses with spans of 53.9 m each; it was renewed in 1922. A third superstructure, a 184.09 m steel-concrete composite trough, was added between 1999 and 2001, one of four major railway bridges built for the new line between 1998 and 2006. A 1992 plan for a three-track prestressed concrete replacement at 20 million DM was abandoned after disputes between DB and the city over its position and design.

The bridge carries the Munich–Treuchtlingen line, and since December 2006 most long-distance trains between Munich and Nuremberg run this way. The eastern track is reserved for freight and some regional trains, while the western track usually takes passenger trains from Nuremberg and Treuchtlingen.

The bridge is best viewed from the riverbank path below, where visitors can observe the structure and its engineering details from a different angle. Walking along the waterside offers good opportunities for photographs and exploring the engineering without restrictions.

The third bridge, built between 1999 and 2001 for 2.5 million euros, was one of six nominees for the 2006 German Bridge Building Prize. Its steel longitudinal girders along the trough edge have a wave-shaped top edge that follows the load, giving the impression of sails.