Die Deutsche Bahn and Siemens have tested a new high-speed train from the Munich-based train manufacturer on the route between Erfurt and Leipzig/Halle. The so-called Velaro Novo reached speeds of around 405 kilometers per hour, as announced by Deutsche Bahn. This was a record for this route, said a railroad spokeswoman. A middle carriage of the new train platform equipped with measurement technology was used for the test. It was pulled by an ICE traction unit, which can reach these high speeds.
"The test runs provide us with important insights for the refurbishment and maintenance of high-speed lines and the technical development of high-speed trains, which also benefits passengers," said Philipp Nagl, head of the rail infrastructure subsidiary DB InfragGo. For Siemens, on the other hand, it is also an important test of the new train technology.
Use in regular service still open
The Velaro Novo is not yet in regular service. Deutsche Bahn's current ICE trains are based on earlier Velaro generations. It remains to be seen in what form and when the Novo will hit the rails in Germany.
Technically, it is no problem for most of Deutsche Bahn's ICE trains to travel faster than 300 kilometers per hour. Only the ICE 4 trains cannot exceed 265 km/h. However, given the short distances between stations in Germany and the often dilapidated and overloaded rail network, it is in fact rare for the vehicles to travel this fast.
The line between Erfurt and Leipzig was put into operation in 2015 and is designed for this speed. It is still in very good condition, according to the railroad company. According to the railroad spokeswoman, the highest speed driven there to date was around 333 kilometers per hour.
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