New ICE L High-Speed Train Premieres in Germany

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has premiered the ICE L: Germany’s first high-speed train with step-free boarding.

The new train introduces several features aimed at improving accessibility and passenger comfort, including mobile signal-permeable windows, redesigned interiors, and newly developed seating.

The ICE L was unveiled at Berlin Ostbahnhof by Evelyn Palla, CEO of DB AG; Dr Michael Peterson, DB Board Member for Long-Distance Passenger Transport; Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Transport; and Carlos de Palacio y Oriol, Executive Chairman of the Spanish manufacturer Talgo.

Evelyn Palla said:

We want to inspire people with our trains. With the new ICE L, we are clearly committed to greater comfort and reliability for our passengers. Every new train contributes to stable operations. That's why we have consistently modernised our fleet in recent years and acquired many new high-speed trains.

The ICE L’s features include:

• Step-free boarding across all doors, made possible by the train’s low-floor design
• Redesigned interiors, using updated materials and colours, as well as adaptive lighting that adjusts throughout the day
• 562 newly developed seats, tested by over 1,600 participants, featuring integrated power sockets, folding tables, and tablet holders
• Mobile signal-permeable windows, allowing mobile phone signals to pass through directly, improving reception without repeaters
• LED reservation indicators, showing seat availability at a glance
• Accessibility improvements, including wider doors and height-adjustable tables in the wheelchair areas

The ICE L also includes DB’s largest family section to date, offering 46 seats and a separate toddler compartment with nine seats — more than on any other ICE model.

Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Transport said:

From the very beginning, I made it clear that the customer must once again be king on the railways. This train is a perfect example of this: From step-free access to family-friendly seating to improved mobile phone reception, the new ICE generation brings many noticeable improvements for passengers. Modernization not only improves the technology, but also the travel experience for millions of people. This applies to the infrastructure as much as to the trains.

Passenger operations will begin gradually from 14 December 2025, starting with services between Berlin and Cologne (ICE 1548 departing Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 07:10, and ICE 1055 departing Cologne Hauptbahnhof at 15:36).

From 1 May 2026, the ICE L will serve routes between Berlin, Hamburg, and Westerland (Sylt), extending to additional tourist routes from 11 July 2026, including connections from Frankfurt (Main) via Gießen, and from Cologne via Münster to Westerland (Sylt). Another route will link Dortmund and Oberstdorf.

Future international services to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Vienna are planned once all technical and regulatory requirements are met.

Carlos de Palacio y Oriol at Talgo said:

Today begins a new chapter in our relationship with DB. I can assure you that we will prioritise devoting all our energy and resources to being a close, efficient, loyal, and reliable partner. All this to ensuring that the operation of the ICE L trains built by Talgo is a success in the immediate future. These are low-floor trains that allow step-free access along the entire length of the train. This cleverly meets the new requirements for sustainable mobility.