Railways modernize their train stock - Passenger group cautions about potential congestion - Railway Renewal Prompts Worry - Passenger Group Cautions About Congestion
Revitalized Long-Distance Trains - Passenger Association Warns of Capacity Crunch
Hey there!
Aging, fault-prone, under-seated - Deutsche Bahn's long-distance train fleet will be rejuvenating, targeting an average age of just 12 years by 2030. This new strategy promises greater dependability on the tracks.
But the passenger association Pro Bahn cautions that phasing out too many old trains may leave a gap on certain routes and reduce train offerings. Spokesperson Lukas Ifflaender voices these concerns.
** slice of modernity - delivered!**
The modernization of DB’s fleet is in full swing. In March last year, the final ICE 4, one of 137 brand-new trains produced by Siemens Mobility, arrived. Featuring bike storage and 444 seats per train, these workhorses now form the backbone of the ICE fleet, with around 400 in service today - a sharp increase from 270 in 2017.
The modern ICE 3 Neo series, updated versions of the previous ICE 3s, are also being delivered. anticipating 90 of these in operation by 2028, 15 this year and 16 next year. Enhancements include frequency-transparent windows for better mobile phone reception.
Currently, the Neos run on high-speed routes between North Rhine-Westphalia and Munich via Frankfurt and Stuttgart, as well as on international connections from Frankfurt to Amsterdam and Brussels.
Hold on, there's a snag - ICE L delivery delays
Another new addition, the ICE L from Spanish manufacturer Talgo, faces delivery issues. DB has committed to 79 trains, with only a few expected to arrive in the latter half of this year. As many as four of these may not show up until 2025. The design resembles that of Intercity more than ICE trains.
Despite delivery delays, the DB maintains a positive outlook, emphasizing fleet rejuvenation plans to enhance operations. The availability of ICE-4 and ICE-3 Neo trains is already higher than with older models, with fewer drive failures since 2019 by 58%.
No punctuality gain, yet
Surprisingly, the new trains haven't yet led to increased train punctuality. Over a third of all long-distance trains are still running late. Pro Bahn, however, remains unimpressed. "Overall, we find the vehicle strategy highly chaotic," said Ifflaender, highlighting the phasing out of older trains.
He emphasizes that passengers on several popular routes will experience reduced seat availability, at least temporarily, until new trains arrive. Specifically affected are the Ost-West connections Wiesbaden-Frankfurt-Leipzig-Dresden and Hamburg-NRW-Bonn-Frankfurt-Nuremberg-Vienna. In plain language, that means: it's going to get tight and crowded. "Traffic bottlenecks - we definitely don't appreciate that," said Ifflaender.
Out with the old, in with the new... eventually
In April, DB removed 14 older ICE 3 trains from service. A further 10 ICE T trains, known as "unreliable and maintenance-intensive," will be phased out by year’s end. The Bahn also recently sold 17 double-decker "Intercity 2 KISS" trains to the Austrian Federal Railways. The Bahn had purchased these trains second-hand in 2019 to address temporary vehicle issues, which have since been resolved.
A fluctuating number of trains
Question remains whether the retiring old trains will be replaced swiftly enough by the partly delayed new additions, raising concerns of inadequate short-term replacement. DB acknowledges the number of ICE trains in the fleet will fluctuate in the coming years due to phase-outs and new arrivals. In the medium term, however, they suggest the number and seating capacity will remain "comparable."
Pro Bahn remains skeptical. "Though seating capacity theoretically increases until 2029, it decreases in reality due to inconsistent fleet availability, even with new, albeit sometimes defective, vehicles."
Meanwhile, rival Flixtrain is planning a significant train expansion, ordering around 30 high-speed trains at an estimated cost of up to 2.4 billion euros. The exact delivery times are uncertain, but the package - including maintenance - is impressive. Flixtrain has also opted for these trains from Spanish manufacturer Talgo.
Stay tuned for updates as DB's fleet evolution unfolds! Best of luck dealing with any temporary capacity challenges! 🚂🚪🚀
The Community Policy could address the concerns surrounding the capacity crunch due to the phasing out of old trains in the revitalized long-distance trains, as a renewed focus on vocational training for transportation workers might ensure a smooth transition and prevent disruptions in service.
Moreover, financial support from the industry could contribute to expediting the delivery of new trains, such as the ICE L, which are experiencing delivery delays, ensuring that vocational training programs have the necessary resources for equipping the workforce with the skills required to operate these new additions to the DB fleet.
