Deutsche Bahn Unveils โฃNewโ ICE L Train, Hopes for Punctuality Boost
Deutsche Bahn is rolling out a new ICE Lโ high-speed train, aiming to improve both passenger โcomfortโฃ and the railway’s historically low โon-time performance. The introduction of the new model comes as the railway faces intense scrutiny over delays,with only 55.3 percent of ICE and IC โฃtrains arriving at their destinations punctually in September.
The โnew โtrainsโค are expected to contribute to โคmoreโฃ reliable service through reduced โmaintenance needsโ and fewerโฃ technical โฃissues, according to railway officials. The launch represents a key step in โคDeutsche Bahn’s ongoing efforts to modernizeโ its fleet and โขaddress longstanding concerns โคabout punctuality and accessibility. The railway anticipates that each โnew trainโฃ added โto service will bolster operational stability, whileโฃ advocates highlight the model’s improved accessibility features.
DB Passenger Long-Distance Transport CEOโข Michael Peterson statedโ that newโฃ trains translate to “less maintenance and less susceptibility to faults – and that’s good โคnews for โคpassengers.” Railway boss Palla โคechoed this sentiment,expressing confidence that “every new train contributes to stable operation.”
The ecological transport club, VCD, praised the ICE L’s accessibility, notingโ its ground-level boarding capability on standard 76 cm high platforms, facilitating access for passengersโ using walkers or wheelchairs. However, VCD federal chairwoman Kerstin Haarmann cautioned โthat further improvements โฃareโ needed โขforโ platforms of varying โheights, which would require external liftingโ systems or other โคassistance.