Denmark Authorises Talgo EuroCity Trains for Cross-Border Services

The Danish Safety Authority (Trafikstyrelsen), alongside Germany’s Federal Railway Authority (EBA) and the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), has granted final approval for Talgo’s EuroCity (EC) trains to operate in Denmark and Germany.

The trains, built by Spanish manufacturer Talgo for Danish State Railways (DSB), are based on the Talgo 230 platform. They will initially run on national routes within Denmark before entering international service between Copenhagen and Hamburg.

The authorisation follows a process involving technical checks, interoperability assessments and infrastructure compatibility tests. Work was carried out in cooperation with Banedanmark and DB InfraGO, the infrastructure managers in Denmark and Germany. TÜV SÜD Rail contributed to verification of subsystems, including electromagnetic compatibility testing.

The approval builds on earlier certification obtained in Germany for the Talgo 230 platform, which is also in use there under the ICE L designation.

EuroCity trains are loco-hauled sets designed for a maximum commercial speed of 200 km/h, with a structural design speed of 230 km/h. Each train can carry up to 492 passengers, depending on configuration, and includes first and second class coaches, a PRM (persons with reduced mobility) car, and space for bicycles and prams.

The two end coaches interface with DSB locomotives. In future, DSB plans to introduce a cab car (styrevogn) to allow push-pull operation and faster turnarounds.

DSB has ordered a total of 16 Talgo 230 sets through three contracts:

• 2020: Initial framework contract worth 500 million EUR, including a firm order of eight trains (134 million EUR)
• 2021: Additional coaches ordered to increase capacity
• 2023: Further order for eight trains (184 million EUR).

Some units have been delivered, while others remain under production.

The Talgo 230 platform has also been selected by Deutsche Bahn, which ordered up to 100 ICE L trains under a framework contract signed in 2019, with firm orders placed for 23 and later 56 trains.

In addition, Flix ordered up to 65 Talgo 230 trains earlier in 2025, with an initial batch of 30 units. This marks the entry of Talgo equipment into the fleet of a private operator in Germany.

Authorisation processes are also underway in Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland, which would allow Talgo 230 sets to operate beyond Denmark and Germany.

Investment in modern rolling stock forms part of Denmark’s climate strategy, which targets a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and full carbon neutrality by 2050.