Deusche Bahn AG has ordered 56 additional multiple units from the Spanish manufacturer Talgo, which will be marketed as ICE-L. The value of the order according to list prices is around 1,4 billion euros and is the largest single order placed in the history of DB AG.

In 2019, Talgo and Germany's state railway company signed a framework agreement. Initially, 23 units were ordered. The order has now been increased to 79 units. These are trains based on the Taglo 230 platform. Deutsche Bahn AG wants to market these as ICE-L.

This is also a first, as all ICE generations, including the so-called diesel ICE, have so far come from Siemens. For the first time, Deutsche Bahn AG relies on another manufacturer for its flagship product.

There is probably another reason for this, because the ICE-L should also be characterized by the fact that it is barrier-free. This is not the case with the ICE railcars currently in use, as these are only accessible via a small set of stairs. According to Deutsche Bahn AG, only Talgo is currently able to offer the desired solution.

Identical to the 56 trains currently in production, the 23 new ICE L trains will be phased into service from autumn 2024: they are state-of-the-art trains with more space and great comfort, consisting of a locomotive driving 17 passenger carriages, of which the The latter has a driver's cab to make operations more flexible - a configuration unknown in Spain but quite common in Germany.

The drive unit, developed entirely by Talgo, is multi-system capable and therefore fully interoperable, so that the ICE L trains can run quickly and without stopping at borders not only within Germany, but also on international routes between Berlin and Amsterdam. The composition will also be compatible with locomotives from other manufacturers, so that it can be used on non-electrified routes, for example.