Overview

• Deutsche Bahn’s ICE L cleared German operational approval on August 11, ending more than a year of certification delays.
• The Talgo-built trains will begin passenger service with four units on the Berlin–Cologne line at the mid-December 2025 timetable change.
• As DB’s first long-distance low-floor train, the ICE L offers step-free entry along with mobile-signal-permeable windows, time-of-day lighting and ergonomically tested seats.
• Additional deliveries are scheduled in 2026, but reports vary on the total order size, citing either 79 or 56 units.
• Designed to replace aging Intercity-1 stock, the ICE L’s maximum speed of 230 km/h reflects a focus on accessibility and comfort over top velocity.