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ECx: The new golden age of conventional trains

The economic leader of the world´s first common-currency union is also at the head of a most ambitious project Western Europe has ever embarked upon: decarbonization. Under this initiative, Germany set the target to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030, as compared to the 1990 levels. And the importance of Talgo´s ECx trains in the achievement of this task, designed to address and tackle the ongoing climate change, cannot be underestimated.

With no definite commercial name assigned so far, the new trains based on the Talgo 230 platform, are provisionally referred to by the German operator Deutsche Bahn as Eurocity, indicating unambiguously their future mission: long-distance and international services.

In a country with one of the busiest rail networks in the world, where high speed is more exception than rule, reliable, fully-accessible and totally interoperable long-distance conventional trains are the key to the successful accomplishment of the environmental goals. DB chose Talgo, because our trains are a feasible alternative to flying.

Contract without precedent

To reinforce its fleet in this new decarbonization scenario, Deutsche Bahn purchased from Talgo long-distance units for the existing conventional routes, with the intention to improve both travel times and passenger comfort levels. In the highly competitive international bid, completed in 2019, Talgo became the only winner awarded a big frame contract for the supply of approximately 100 railway units worth of 2,300 million euros.

Within the above-mentioned agreement, DB immediately placed the first firm order of 23 trainsets for the amount of 550 million euros. These are currently at the last engineering development stage and their estimated date of delivery and commissioning is 2023.

Talgo locomotives

The new DB train is a self-propelled multiple unit. Its configuration is quite common for Germany, including a conventional locomotive at one of the train ends pushing or pulling according to the direction of travel, 16 intermediate non-powered passenger cars and another trailer car at the opposite end of the unit provided with a driver´s cab. From the latter, commands are sent to the locomotive when in the pushing mode.

Under the contract, Talgo designs, builds and supplies to DB multi-voltage electric locomotives with a maximum operating speed of 230 km/h, fully compatible with different electrification and signaling systems.

These will enable the new trains to run not only on the German rail network, but to cross borders and operate in the neighboring countries. ECx versatile design will also allow DB to use them with diesel locomotives when required and, therefore, always to the best advantage.

Up to the highest technical demands

To face the challenge, Talgo offered Deutsche Bahn its modular platform Talgo 230, a comprehensive transport solution specifically designed for conventional lines on the basis of the loco-hauled trains which had shown superior performance with the index of reliability close to 99% during their operation in countries with the most diverse technical requirements, such as Russia, the USA and Germany.

Talgo´s extensive experience in the manufacture of interoperable trains and DB´s choice of a specialized platform conceived for long-distance conventional transportation services, with configurable interior design and lightweight technology, will allow the German operator to benefit from prior experience and obtain a reliable product certified and tested against the most rigorous and comprehensive standards worldwide: FRA´s norms in North America, GOST in CIS countries, and ERA´s technical specification for interoperability in the European Union, among others.

Travel to the heart of Europe

Talgo ECx, accommodating a total of 570 passengers per train, 85 in the first- and 485 in the second-class cars, are expected to operate mainly on the Berlin – Amsterdam line, currently in high demand and featuring a 2-hour service frequency. Their light weight and multi-system traction technology will allow to shorten the journey time on this route by approximately 30 minutes, so that passengers can get from the capital of Germany to the heart of the Netherlands in only 5 hours and 50 minutes.

Due to their interoperability and increased capacity, Talgo ECx are also expected to carry passengers to the main tourist destinations: the North Sea and the Alps. In summer 2024, Deutsche Bahn is planning to put them into service on the Westerland-Cologne, Westerland-Frankfurt-Karlsruhe, Westerland-Berlin and Oberstdorf-Cologne lines.

New accessibility standards

Talgo running gear technology allows to build trains with floors matching the height of standard railway platforms. The floor height is the same along the entire length of the train, enabling persons with disabilities to enter without assistance. Talgo ECx is a zero-steps train, where accesses, aisles, passenger seats and the rest of the on-board facilities are at level with the platform.

This means wheelchair users will need no external aid to board and alight from the train, or to get to one of the three PRM seats (provided with adjustable height tables) or to the PRM WC. The train will have braille tactile directional signs.

Talgo ECx will also offer easier and quicker access of passengers traveling with large-size baggage or baby carriages and strollers. Inside, passengers will move freely to any part of the train with no vertical gaps or other obstacles in their way.

Talgo ECx is an absolutely new model for the German operator, since from now on, each train manufactured and delivered by Talgo to DB, shall be fully accessible and provided with at least several entrances specifically adapted to persons with disabilities.

ECx from the inside

Talgo vehicles feature wider carbody, offering more space per passenger, if compared to the competition, which adds another advantage to the technological uniqueness of our rolling stock.

As for equipment, according to DB´s request, the new ECx will provide facilities and characteristics similar to those offered on board the ICEs, namely, WiFi, variable illumination during daylight hours, more luggage room, bistro on board and real-time information displays. DB also decided to equip its ECx with passenger seats, specifically tailored to satisfy any customer demand. Exhaustive tests will be conducted on several models of the seat under real operating conditions with passengers so that DB can make the decision thereon.

Talgo cars have shorter passenger rooms and a modular design, easily adaptable to ski, bike or luggage storage racks, if needed. These can also be modified to include children play areas.

Technical features

Height: Cars 3.6 - 3.8 m; locomotive 4.2 m
Train length: 255 m, of which 235 m correspond to 17 passenger cars and 19.5 m to the locomotive.
Tare weight: 425 t
Number of axles: 20 axles (16 single-axle running gears + 4 conventional axles of the 2 trailer bogies corresponding to 17 cars) and 4 conventional axles of the 2 powered bogies of the locomotive.
Brakes: electric regenerative brake, used as a primary brake, sending extra energy back to the overhead line; pneumatic brake (disc brakes), used as an auxiliary braking system and magnetic brake on demand.
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Last Updated 6/15/20

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