Siemens’ new Velaro D trainsets have received approval to operate on high-speed routes in Germany.
The rolling stock manufacturer is delivering 16 next-generation ICE trains for Deutsche Bahn (DB) as part of a half-a-billion euro order announced in 2008.
Each of the four trains delivered so far will go into service immediately after receiving certification from the German Federal Railway Authority (EBA) shortly before Christmas.
A further four of the distributed-power trainsets are expected to be delivered in the spring which will eventually operate on cross-border routes spanning Germany, Belgium and France.[pullquote align=”right”]With the approval to operate these trains in Germany now granted, we’ve reached an important milestone in this project.[/pullquote]
The new eight-car trains will have a greater capacity than their predecessors and are capable of reaching speeds of 320 km/h.
Siemens has attributed delivery delays of the Velaro D vehicles to the complexity of integrating the variations in train control systems.
Jochen Eickholt, chief executive of Siemens’ Rail Systems Division, said: “With the approval to operate these trains in Germany now granted, we’ve reached an important milestone in this project.
“We’re cooperating with Deutsche Bahn, the French operator SNCF, the German Federal Railway Authority and the corresponding French and Belgian authorities to obtain approval – which has not yet been granted – for the trains’ cross-border deployment. However, we’re also dependent in this connection on a number of suppliers.
“In order to accelerate these processes in the future, we have to achieve harmonization with respect to technology and approval in Europe as quickly as possible.”
Siemens should start building the new Inspiro London Underground Tubes for the Bakerloo, Piccadilly, Central, Waterloo & City, Northern and Jubilee lines (unless Bombardier or Alstom does build their own new tube trains for the Northern and Jubilee Lines).