Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Siemens Mobility have successfully conducted a high-speed test with an ICE train, reaching 405.0 km/h on the route between Erfurt and Leipzig/Halle. Such speeds are uncommon in Germany's rail network and are reserved for testing.
Dr. Philipp Nagl, CEO of DB InfraGO AG, remarked, "Today, an ICE has traveled faster than ever before on the Erfurt–Leipzig/Halle line. A new top speed of 405.0 km/h also confirms the high performance of the infrastructure on this high-speed route: after ten years of continuous operation, we can run at such high speeds without any modifications."
Christian Hirte from the Federal Ministry for Transport commented on Germany's infrastructure quality: "Germany is and can be top! Today’s top-speed run shows that we in Germany have high-quality infrastructure and a powerful industry."
Thomas Graetz from Siemens Mobility highlighted the significance of their Velaro Novo test vehicle: "The successful test runs...clearly demonstrate the performance capabilities of our latest generation of high-speed trains."
Dr. Hiie-Mai Unger from DB Systemtechnik emphasized innovation: “Driving innovation forward and preparing rail transport for the future – that’s what we at DB Systemtechnik contribute to with our test runs.”
The ICE-S train used in these tests is equipped with advanced measurement technology to optimize conditions on high-speed routes. The Velaro Novo train represents further development from previous generations, boasting increased efficiency and capacity.
In regular service, German ICE trains operate up to 300 km/h on designated lines like those between Berlin-Munich or Cologne-Frankfurt. The Erfurt–Leipzig/Halle route is part of a major transport project initiated in 2015 and remains under maintenance until July 12.
Photos related to this event will soon be available in Deutsche Bahn's media library.