Fresh Take on Bahn's Long-Distance Fleet Modernization: Pro Bahn Warns of Capacity Challenges
Fleet revitalization on trains - Passenger organization issues caution on potential congestion issues - Railway Fleet Renewal Initiated -Passenger Group Cautions on Potential Bottlenecks Ahead
Hey there, travel buddies! Deutsche Bahn is spicing things up with their long-distance fleet, aiming to bring down the average age of ICE and IC trains from 18 to a sprightly 12 years by 2030. But nothing's ever simple, right?
That's where Pro Bahn, the passenger association, swoops in. Board member, Lukas Ifflaender, has raised the alarm about potentially reduced train offerings on certain routes due to old trains being phased out too slowly. Ouch! Sounds like we might be sharing even tighter quarters on the rails.
ICE 4 Shines Bright
Last March, the last of 137 brand-new ICE 4 trains was delivered by Siemens Mobility, bringing the total to 137. These modern marvels come with bike storage spaces, packing a minimum of 444 seats per train, and reaching top speeds of 265 kilometers per hour. Nicely done, DB Fernverkehr!
The ICE 4 fleet now stands as the backbone of the ICE fleet, increasing the number of ICE trains from around 270 in 2017 to approximately 400 today. Impressive, isn't it? But there's always a catch, huh?
Delays Galore with ICE L
Delivery problems have hit another new order: the ICE L from Spanish manufacturer Talgo. DB Fernverkehr has ordered 79 trains, but alas, the first ones aren't expected until the second half of this year at the earliest. Bummer! Four of these trains might not even make it until 2025. Oh, the suspense!
However, DB Fernverkehr boasts progress with the ICE 3 Neo, a revamped version of the existing ICE-3 series. Yes, 90 of these spruced-up coaches are expected to be on the road by 2028. This year, 15 ICE 3 Neo will be added, and next year 16, DB Fernverkehr revealed. These babies feature frequency-transparent windows for better reception and more.
Currently, the ICE 3 Neo is in testing on high-speed routes between North Rhine-Westphalia and Munich via Frankfurt and Stuttgart, and on international connections from Frankfurt to Amsterdam and Brussels. What a ride!
A Chaotic Vehicle Strategy?
Pro Bahn isn't totally convinced by DB Fernverkehr's numbers, with Ifflaender pointing out potential issues with old train phase-outs. He anticipates reduced seat availability on certain routes, especially on east-west connections such as Wiesbaden-Frankfurt-Leipzig-Dresden and Hamburg-NRW-Bonn-Frankfurt-Nuremberg-Wien. Yikes! Looks like it'll be elbow room all around.
Specifically, in April, 14 older ICE 3 trains were taken out of commission, while 10 more ICE T trains are expected to be phased out by the end of the year. The news gets even juicier: around 3 dozen ICE-2 trains, which have been in operation since 1996, are set to be phased out by the end of 2027.
Uncertain Replacements
The question remains: can the departing trains be replaced quickly enough by the delayed additions? Ifflaender stresses that the consequences are already visible—the early Leipzig train is set to be cancelled at the timetable change due to the retirement of the 5-car ICE T, which is scheduled to retire at the timetable change.
DB Fernverkehr acknowledges that the ICE fleet size will fluctuate in the coming years due to the departure of older trains and the arrival of new ones. In the medium term, however, they assure us that the number of seats will increase, remaining "at a comparable level."
Pro Bahn Remains Skeptical
Ifflaender isn't so sure, pointing out that paper increases in seat capacity may not translate into actual practice due to poor fleet availability. "Even new vehicles are often in the shops," he remarked. While DB Fernverkehr's fleet might be getting younger, it doesn't necessarily mean it's getting larger.
Competitor, Flixtrain, has recently announced a major train offensive, ordering around 30 new high-speed trains. Will these beauties help fill the gap? We'll have to wait and see! Until then, pack your sense of humor and some patience for the ride!
Community policy should address concerns raised by Pro Bahn regarding potential capacity challenges in the Deutsche Bahn's long-distance fleet modernization, particularly in relation to the phase-out of old trains and the deployment of new ones like the ICE 4, ICE L, and ICE 3 Neo. Finance and transportation industries should collaborate to ensure a seamless transition, ensuring that vocational training programs are in place to maintain and operate the new, technologically advanced trains effectively.
