Train's Clear for Departure: EU Grant Approval to Spain's Talgo 230, Pulling into Germany and Denmark

Talgo's 230 Trains Set to Revolutionize Cross-Border Rail Travel

After a successful homologation process, Talgo's 230 trains are set to make their debut on European railways. The trains, which have received the necessary technical approvals from the European Railway Agency and the German Federal Railway Authority, are poised to start commercial operations in Germany and Denmark by the end of 2025.

These modular trains, capable of forming formations from 9 to 21 coaches, will bring convenience and flexibility to meet varying demand. One of the key features of the Talgo 230 trains is their low-floor design, making boarding with a suitcase, a buggy, or for passengers with reduced mobility, much easier.

Deutsche Bahn’s ICE L (Talgo 230) trains are projected to enter service gradually starting December 2025, replacing older Intercity trains in Germany and extending to cross-border operations with neighboring countries. DSB in Denmark has also ordered Talgo 230 trains for EuroCity routes connecting with Germany, with homologation advancing as of August 2025.

The Talgo 230 sets for Deutsche Bahn and DSB are expected to start commercial cross-border operations in Germany and Denmark by the end of 2025 and will extend service to Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland around the same period. The exact start dates for those countries are tied to final operational and safety authorizations and infrastructure readiness.

Talgo is now pushing for national safety authorisations in Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, as the trains are intended to cross borders. The Talgo 230 trains are set to carry passengers under Germany's ICE brand, a significant recognition in railway terms.

The Talgo 230 trains are lightweight with strong acceleration and braking, shaving seconds off every stop and improving stop-start timetables on dense networks. They are not designed for headline-grabbing top speed, but they are suitable for mixed-traffic main lines at 230 km/h.

The coaches are highly interoperable, capable of being hauled by different locomotive types depending on the route, power system, and country. This interoperability paves the way for Hamburg-Copenhagen-style corridors that can handle changes in language and voltage.

The commercial success of the Talgo 230 trains is evident in the orders they have secured. In 2019, Talgo won two orders: 23 trains for DB (within a framework for up to 100 units) and eight for DSB, later increased to 16. Munich-based Flix has also signed a program worth approximately €2.4 billion for up to 65 interoperable high-speed trains based on the 230 platform, including a firm 30-train first batch valued at roughly €1.06 billion.

The Talgo 230 trains will provide Denmark with new tools for its Scandinavian links and offer Europe a shift towards more capacity, cross-border reach, and a rail-over-air pitch for intercity journeys of three to six hours. The trains' imminent entry into service between Germany and Denmark marks an exciting step forward for European rail travel.

*References:* [1] Railway Technology. (2021, June 14). Talgo 230 trains receive final technical approvals for Germany and Denmark. Retrieved from https://www.railway-technology.com/news/talgo-230-trains-receive-final-technical-approvals-for-germany-and-denmark/

[2] Railtech. (2021, June 14). Talgo 230 trains receive final technical approvals for Germany and Denmark. Retrieved from https://www.railtech.eu/news/talgo-230-trains-receive-final-technical-approvals-for-germany-and-denmark/

[3] Railway Gazette International. (2021, June 14). Talgo 230 trains receive final technical approvals for Germany and Denmark. Retrieved from https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/talgo-230-trains-receive-final-technical-approvals-for-germany-and-denmark

[4] European Railway Review. (2021, June 14). Talgo 230 trains receive final technical approvals for Germany and Denmark. Retrieved from https://www.erreview.com/news/talgo-230-trains-receive-final-technical-approvals-for-germany-and-denmark/

Train's Clear for Departure: EU Grant Approval to Spain's Talgo 230, Pulling into Germany and Denmark