Deutsche Bahn is expanding and rejuvenating.

At least that applies to their ICE fleet, which will be supplemented by a number of new vehicles in 2023.

Michael Peterson, Deutsche Bahn Board Member responsible for long-distance transport, announced that next year will be the “record year” for fleet expansion.

The company expects to deliver three new ICEs per month, including the ICE3 Neo, which was only introduced at the beginning of the month.

After all, in his first week he didn't show the usual teething problems that you usually see with new ICE launches, said Peterson.

By the end of the decade, more than 450 ICE trains from the state-owned company are expected to be on the road – around a hundred more than is currently the case.

Corinna Budras

Business correspondent in Berlin.

  • Follow I follow

The rail manager reminded that there were also many positive things in 2022.

"We're particularly pleased with the rush of passengers," said Peterson.

Deutsche Bahn has noticed a clear “post-corona recovery” since April.

But even he couldn't avoid the "dark side" of the year that was coming to an end: the operational quality and punctuality, which suffered greatly due to the urgently needed modernization of the rail infrastructure.

The plans of the state-owned company for the renewal of the fleet of the next generation of high-speed trains with up to 950 seats per train give cause for even greater anticipation – but also more patience.

This is not a normal procurement project, emphasized Peterson, but a completely new development.

"This will be the flagship for the traffic turnaround," he promises.

New express train for 2031

Next year, Deutsche Bahn intends to press ahead with the development of a new express train, which is expected to go into service at the end of 2031 and – as before – can travel at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and be 400 meters long.

The railways cannot improve on these two factors, the infrastructure in Germany simply does not provide more: You cannot drive faster on the tracks;

longer trains cannot stop in the stations.

However, there are still a number of possibilities for improvement: Peterson promised that energy consumption would be significantly lower, and the new trains should also be made of 90 percent recycled material.

The entry should also be more comfortable, the Deutsche Bahn is working on a "level entry".

Travelers will then no longer have to climb steps with their suitcases, walking aids or prams.

Instead, the entrance is at the same level as the platform.

Technically, this is not trivial, at least for high-speed trains that travel between 280 and 300 kilometers per hour.

Another solution must be found for its drive, so far it has been located in the lower part of the train.

So far, he has been responsible for ensuring that boarding at platform height is not possible.

New interior design for on-board bistros

The interior design, for example in the on-board bistros, is also to change.

Deutsche Bahn is also thinking about meeting rooms where customers can work.

In addition, a mixed use of compartments with changing designs is being considered: children's compartments, which are occupied by families at the weekend, could be used by business customers during the week.

Following a tender, Deutsche Bahn commissioned the train manufacturers Siemens Mobility and Alstom to develop the new express train concept.

In a further tender, the specific development, construction and approval of the new trains will probably be awarded from the second half of 2023.

“We have agreed on up to 100 vehicles in the framework agreement.

How many we'll take is still open," said Peterson.

It is certain that no double-decker vehicles will be developed - a conscious decision was made against such models.

The last timetable change was just under a week ago, but Deutsche Bahn is keen to give a foretaste of major improvements next year: From December 2023, the train will run between Berlin and Hanover every half hour.

In addition, a new ICE connection between Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia is to be included.

East Germany is also better connected.

Also from December 2023 there will be a new connection between Nuremberg, Jena and Leipzig.

Travel times are also changing: the connection from Berlin to Amsterdam will then be half an hour faster, partly because it will then no longer be necessary to change locomotives at the border.