DENMARK: The first of the Talgo 230 trainsets ordered by national passenger train operator DSB for its long-distance and EuroCity international routes entered service between København and Hamburg on November 3.
Jens Visholm, Commercial Director at DSB, said ‘in recent years, we have experienced an increased interest in taking the train abroad. From 2023 to 2024, the number of passengers increased by 22% and the growth continues. So we look forward to welcoming the many passengers in the new train coaches.’
Three orders
DSB placed a €134m order for eight Talgo trainsets in February 2020, primarily intended for use on long distance services from København and Aarhus to Hamburg, and potentially on other international and domestic routes.
In April 2021 it placed a second order for additional coaches to increase the number of seats per train from 442 to 492. In April 2023 DSB confirmed a €184m third order for an additional eight trainsets to be delivered in 2026-27, along with 16 driving cars which will enable push-pull operation with shorter turn-round times at the termini.
The design draws on Talgo’s global experience, featuring its independently rotating wheels and passive tilt. The cars are shorter but wider than conventional coaches, allowing for more interior space and higher levels of comfort while retaining technical interoperability.
The DSB trainsets have a design speed of 230 km/h and an operating speed of 200 km/h, and will operate with Siemens Mobility Vectron electric locomotives.
Entry into service
The first eight of the DSB sets have now been delivered and are scheduled to enter service between København and Hamburg in the coming months. The remaining eight sets and the driving cars are expected to be delivered in 2026-27.
DSB plans to use the trainsets to increase the number of international services to 10 return trains/day between Hamburg and København from May to August 2026.
Separately, Germany’s DB has also ordered similar trainsets which are branded ICE L.
