Talgo 230 Wins Approval for Germany and Denmark, Paving the Way for ICE L and EuroCity Services

Talgo 230 Wins Approval for Germany and Denmark, Paving the Way for ICE L and EuroCity Services

(IN BRIEF) Talgo’s 230 train has received technical approval from the European Railway Agency and Germany’s Federal Railway Authority for commercial service in Germany and Denmark, paving the way for operations under Deutsche Bahn’s “ICE L” and DSB’s “EuroCity” brands. Fully developed and manufactured in Spain, the Talgo 230 combines high-speed capabilities with modular, interoperable design to serve dense, cross-border European rail networks. Testing and certification involved extensive collaboration with TÜV SÜD Rail and infrastructure managers in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The approval also supports Talgo’s recent €2.4 billion contract with Flix for up to 65 trains based on the same platform.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 12-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Talgo has achieved a major milestone in its international expansion with the Talgo 230 train receiving full technical approval for commercial commissioning in Germany and Denmark. The authorisation, jointly granted by the European Railway Agency (ERA) and Germany’s Federal Railway Authority (EBA), clears the way for operations under the “ICE L” name for Deutsche Bahn and the “EuroCity” (EC) name for Danske Statsbaner. All units have been designed and manufactured entirely in Spain, underscoring the company’s domestic engineering and production capabilities.

This double homologation validates Talgo’s advanced technology, quality, and interoperability. It marks the culmination of an industrial process that began in 2019 with an order from Deutsche Bahn for 23 trains—later extended under a framework contract for up to 100 units—and continued in 2020 with an order from DSB for eight trains, subsequently expanded to 16.

The Talgo 230 platform leverages the company’s expertise in high-speed rail and lightweight rolling assemblies to deliver trains capable of speeds up to 230 km/h, with strong acceleration and braking performance. This makes them ideal for dense networks with numerous stops and varied routes. Both the ICE L and EC versions feature modular designs allowing for trainsets ranging from 9 to 21 cars, adaptable to seasonal demand, and capable of coupling with various locomotive types to maximise network compatibility.

Designed for cross-border travel, the Talgo 230 will also seek certification in Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland to further enhance its international reach. The deployment in Germany will begin with third-party locomotives before transitioning to Talgo-developed Br 105 locomotives, which are currently undergoing their own approval process.

Talgo has worked closely with TÜV SÜD Rail since 2021 to ensure compliance with the highest safety standards, completing rigorous static and dynamic testing in Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The certification process involved coordination with multiple infrastructure managers, including DB Infra Go, ÖBB Infra, ProRail, and SBB.

Beyond its DB and DSB projects, Talgo recently secured a contract with Munich-based Flix to supply up to 65 interoperable high-speed trains based on the Talgo 230 platform, valued at approximately €2.4 billion. This includes an initial firm order of 30 units worth around €1.06 billion.

With these achievements, Talgo strengthens its position as a global leader in rail innovation, offering state-of-the-art solutions for sustainable, efficient, and interoperable passenger transport across Europe and beyond.

About Talgo

Talgo is a leader in the design, manufacture and maintenance of high-speed and intercity trains, with industrial presence in Spain, Germany, Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the United States. Recognised worldwide for its capacity for innovation, unique and distinctive technology and reliability, the company has a team of more than 3,500 people in 11 countries.

Talgo is the main supplier of high-speed and very high-speed trains to Renfe, and the supplier of trains for the “Haramain” project between Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Talgo is also the manufacturer chosen by state-run companies in Germany and Denmark to decarbonise their mobility with up to 100 and 16 Talgo 230 Intercity trains, respectively.

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SOURCE: Talgo