New long-distance trains for Germany's Deutsche Bahn to enter service. (picture alliance/dpa/Bernd von Jutrczenka)
German railway operator Deutsche Bahn's new stepless long-distance train has received approval for operation in Germany.
"This means that the new long-distance train can go into passenger service at the end of the year as planned," the company announced.
The new Intercity-Express (ICE) L trains are to be deployed in stages from the timetable change in mid-December, initially between Berlin and Cologne.
The model from Spanish manufacturer Talgo was originally due to be launched in autumn 2024.
According to Deutsche Bahn, the launch was postponed due to delivery problems at the manufacturer and delays in the testing and approval process.
The railway has ordered 79 of the new trains. The first four are due to enter service this year, with nine more trains to follow in 2026.
The special feature of the vehicles is the stepless boarding - the "L" in the name stands for "Low Floor," according to Deutsche Bahn.
The ICE L is intended to replace the old Intercity 1 trains and can reach speeds of up to 230 kilometres per hour - lower than other ICE trains.
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