Masonry arch bridges are characteristic for the railroad bridge network in Germany and known for their robustness and durability. About 6000 arch bridges are currently in the network of Deutsche Bahn (DB). Although most of these structures have a considerable residual load bearing capacity, they are often demolished and replaced by reinforced concrete frame bridges. The preservation of arch bridges not only reduces costs and preserves building culture, but also contributes to climate protection. Therefore, standardized recalculation and renovation concepts are required to preserve the buildings. This article focuses on targeted retrofitting methods. The current extension of Guideline 804 [1] to include a module for the preservation of arched bridges is intended to create a normative basis. The first step was to evaluate the existing arch bridges and typical damage. Subsequently, a target-oriented handling of arch bridges is shown and retrofitting methods are explained. Finally, there is a practical example of the arch bridge EÜ Straße.