Deutsche Bahn (DB) has ordered an additional 17 ICE 3neo trains worth around €600 million from Siemens Mobility.
In July 2020, Deutsche Bahn ordered 30 ICE 3neo trains based on the Velaro MS platform from Siemens Mobility and called up 43 further trains in January 2022. This latest order will take the fleet to 90 trains, completing the original framework agreement. The new trains will be built at Siemens Mobility's factory in Krefeld and delivered by August 2028.
With a top speed of 320 km/h, the ICE 3neo is one of the fastest members of the ICE fleet. The eight-car trains have four different voltage systems to allow cross-border service on international connections from Germany to Belgium and the Netherlands.
They have 439 seats and numerous innovative features that provide improved comfort and convenience:, including:
- Special glazing that ensures stable mobile phone reception
- Eight bicycle spaces in each train
- Redesigned luggage racks with more space
- Lighting changes colour depending on the time of day
- Tablet holders and power outlets at all seats, including second class
- Extra doors to allow speedier boarding and alighting at stations
- A new door lift that provides easier access for wheelchair users
Dr. Michael Peterson, DB Board Member for Long Distance Passenger Transport, said “Deutsche Bahn will be undertaking a comprehensive rejuvenation over the coming years. This includes our nationwide rail network as well as our trains.
“This year we are already taking delivery of an average of three new ICE trains per month. And we are further accelerating the renewal of our fleet. In doing so, we'll also be relying on additional ICE 3neo trains from Siemens. The first trains to be delivered have been in service since December 2022 and are proving extremely successful,”
Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, said “With the delivery of 90 ICE 3neo trains, Siemens Mobility is providing a large share of DB's new capacity for long-distance passenger transport. The trains are based on our proven Velaro platform, ensuring short delivery times, long-term viability, reliable operation, and a speedier transportation transition.
“The first trains of the ICE 3neo family have been impressing passengers since December 2022 with their refined comfort and advanced technology.”
Just wondering why we get stories about rail services outside the UK.
We always cover the UK news first. There are a couple of reasons why things like this are covered as extras, firstly we have members outside the UK who are interested in relevant stories. Secondly, as many of the manufacturers supply trains and trams for the UK Network, it is always of interest to see the rolling stock manufactured for those countries to see how they compare to what we are getting.
Ok, thank you for that. I realise there are members in Europe, and what I meant earlier is European stories are not for me.