Germany: The first locomotive-hauled set from Deutsche Bahn’s fleet began operating on the Copenhagen–Hamburg route over the weekend. The launch comes two years later than originally planned.
The Talgo 230 platform passenger coaches are structurally identical to those commissioned in early November by Danish operator DSB under the EuroCity brand. While DSB sets use Siemens Mobility Vectron electric locomotives, the ICE L variant includes Talgo’s BR 105 series locomotives for traction. These locomotives have yet to receive operational approval, so a Vectron leased from Czech operator CD is currently providing the haulage.
Depending on demand, each ICE L train consists of 9–21 coaches in first- and second-class configurations, with 562 seats in the 17-coach layout. The trains are designed for 200 km/h maximum speed. All coaches except the two end vehicles are low-floor.
Deutsche Bahn contracted for 79 Talgo 230 trains plus BR 105 electric locomotives in 2019 and 2023. The Spanish manufacturer claims they are 20% lighter per passenger than competitors’ trains, thanks to Talgo’s traditional technology of single-axle bogies with one wheelset per coach.
