The German railway company Deutsche Bahn has unveiled its new ICE model, designed to provide step-free access for passengers. The new ICE L, built by the Spanish manufacturer Talgo, also features mobile-signal-permeable windows and lighting that adjusts according to the time of day, the company announced on Friday.
Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) praised the new generation of ICE trains, saying: “From step-free boarding and family-friendly seating to improved mobile reception, the new ICE generation brings noticeable improvements for passengers.”
Schnieder presented the new train at Berlin Ostbahnhof, together with Deutsche Bahn’s new CEO Evelyn Palla, DB Long-Distance Chief Michael Peterson, and Talgo CEO Carlos de Palacio y Oriol. Palla expressed her hope that the new trains will also help reduce delays and cancellations, stating: “Every new train contributes to more stable operations.”
The environmental transport association VCD welcomed the new series as “a step toward accessibility,” but said there was still work to be done. “At long-distance platforms, which are generally 76 cm high in Germany, passengers can board at ground level, even with walkers or wheelchairs,” said VCD Chair Kerstin Haarmann. “At other platform heights, external lifts or other assistance systems are needed.”
The ICE L will enter service with the timetable change on December 14, initially running between Berlin and Cologne. From May, it will also operate between Berlin, Hamburg, and Westerland (Sylt), and from July, between Frankfurt and Cologne to Westerland. “In the future, the train will also run to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Vienna, once all necessary conditions are met,” Deutsche Bahn added.
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