GERMANY: Deutsche Bahn has commissioned two companies to develop design concepts for its next generation of high speed trains.
The Hochgeschwindigkeitsverkehrs in Deutschland 3·0 fleet would enter service from the early 2030s, replacing DB Fernverkehr’s ICE3 trainsets and expanding its fleet to accommodate ridership growth.
Following a call for tenders, Alstom and Siemens Mobility have each been awarded contracts to develop HGV 3·0 concepts, with DB contributing its expertise in high speed train operations.
A second tendering process covering development, construction and approval of the new fleet is expected to begin in the second half of 2023. This will also be open to other manufacturers.
DB is seeking single-deck trains with a maximum length of 400 m and around 950 seats, capable of achieving a maximum speed of at least 300 km/h. They should offer high levels of passenger comfort, and set new standards for energy efficiency and availability.
‘The form of co-operation is forward-looking’, commented Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock at Siemens Mobility. ‘Rather than delivering a specific catalogue of requirements, the most important features of the new generation of ICE trains will be developed in close co-operation with the customer.’
Alstom said more than 100 of its engineers would be involved, mainly at Hennigsdorf but supported by sites at La Rochelle and Saint-Ouen in France. The company’s President for the DACH region Müslüm Yakisan said Alstom had ‘tremendous development expertise in Germany’, where it had been involved with previous ICE variants, as well as global high speed rail experience.
