The legendary GDR express train is back

This gem is sure to set the hearts of many train fans racing: Rail enthusiasts in Radebeul celebrated the return of the historic SVT Görlitz express train. The former flagship of the Deutsche Reichsbahn for international service dates back to 1968 and underwent extensive restoration over a period of more than five years. The cost of the restoration was reported to be approximately 7 million euros.

The train, with its streamlined front and distinctive nose, was handed over on Saturday in the Harz Mountains before the eyes of hundreds of onlookers and then embarked on its maiden journey to Magdeburg and back to Halberstadt. On Sunday, it traveled from there via Halle and Leipzig to Radebeul, where it was welcomed with a celebration.

Regular special trips planned

In the future, the train will be available for regular special trips, said Mario Lieb of SVT Görlitz gGmbH. These include trips to Prague and Karlovy Vary, the Rhine Valley, or to Hamburg and Sylt. On June 28, it will transport fans of the band Keimzeit (“Kling Klang”) from Dresden to a concert in Cottbus. 

A total of eight trains of this type were built in the 1960s. The high-speed railcar was certified for a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour. The train once connected Berlin with Prague and Vienna, among other destinations.