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In total, DB is now investing around 12 billion euros in new long-distance trains.

In one of the largest procurement projects in the company's history, Deutsche Bahn (DB) is buying 73 new ICE trains. The total investment volume of approximately two billion euros is for 56 ICE L trains from the Spanish manufacturer Talgo and 17 ICE 3neo trains from Siemens Mobility. The ordered trains will be on the rails from 2026 and will be delivered until 2030. In total, DB is now investing around 12 billion euros in new long-distance trains. The average age of ICE and Intercity trains will drop from 18 years now to 12 years in 2030. 

The highlight of the ICE L is getting on and off at the same level on standard platforms that are 76 centimeters high. This means a significant increase in comfort for all travellers. With the ICE 3neo, passengers also benefit from numerous innovations, such as tablet holders and sockets in all seats. New reservation displays with colored LED lighting provide information about reserved and free places at a glance. Transparent windows ensure stable reception for mobile phones in the train.

“DB will undergo a radical rejuvenation treatment in the coming years. This applies to both the rail network and our trains. This year we are already receiving an average of three new ICE trains per month. With an extra two billion euros, we are accelerating the rejuvenation of our train fleet. People want to take the train. With new trains, more comfort and faster connections, we are meeting the rapidly growing demand for environmentally friendly rail mobility.”

The new trains add another 39.000 seats to the ICE fleet. This includes a total of 90 ICE 3neo and 79 ICE L trains. The DB had concluded framework agreements with the manufacturers for these trains. The ICE 3neo trains have now been called up, for the ICE L DB has an option for another 21 trains.

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The ordered trains will be on the rails from 2026 and will be delivered until 2030. 

“The new trains represent progress on the railways – fast, digital, barrier-free. They not only create more much-needed capacity, but also increase quality and comfort for passengers. Combined with our package of measures to upgrade the network, the rejuvenation of the fleet ensures one thing above all: more operational reliability.”

The ICE L: use throughout Germany

The ICE L, which has a top speed of 230 km/h, will run for the first time between Berlin and Amsterdam from October 2024. With this additional order, the ICE L will not only be used on individual routes, but throughout Germany. The ICE L also offers a significantly improved feeling of space with shorter carriages, a new lighting concept and the new interior design. Thanks to the multi-system locomotive, time-saving operation in cross-border traffic is also possible. In the future, connections to Denmark (Copenhagen) and Austria (Vienna) will also be added.

The ICE 3ne o: track use

The first ICE 3neo have been in use since December 2022 and have proven themselves very well. With its new lift, the ICE 3neo also offers a significantly improved entry point for wheelchair users. With a top speed of 300 km/h, the ICE 3neo is mainly intended for connections via German circuits, for example between NRW and Frankfurt and further to/from Munich (via the new high-speed route Wendlingen-Ulm) or between Berlin and Munich. In 2024, the train will therefore replace its predecessors prone to failure on the connections from Frankfurt to Amsterdam and Brussels, according to the German railway company

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