Photo Credit: Deutsche Bahn AG / Oliver Lang
DB and Siemens Mobility have achieved a new speed record for the Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle route during test runs – journeys provide important insights for the refurbishment of high-speed lines and the technical development of high-speed trains
Erfurt, 28 June 2025
Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Siemens Mobility have reached a speed of 405.0 km/h with an ICE test train on the Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle high-speed line. Trains travelling at speeds of over 300 km/h are very rare on the German rail network and are only used for test purposes.
Dr Philipp Nagl, CEO of DB InfraGO AG: “Today, an ICE has travelled faster than ever before on the Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle line. The new maximum speed of 405.0 km/h is also confirmation of the efficiency of the infrastructure on this high-speed line: after 10 years in continuous operation, we can run at such high speeds without any problems and without any adjustments. It is confirmation that infrastructure investments over generations are the basis for reliable, sustainable and efficient mobility and logistics. The test runs provide us with important insights for the renovation and maintenance of high-speed lines and the technical development of high-speed trains, which also benefits passengers.”
Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Transport: “Germany is and can be top! Today’s high-speed journey proves that we have a high-quality infrastructure and efficient industry in Germany. The test results obtained will be of great benefit to DB AG in future procurements and to customers, enabling them to reach their destinations quickly, safely and punctually. This high-speed journey also strengthens Germany’s position as an economic and export nation.”
Thomas Graetz, Vice President High Speed and Intercity Trains, Siemens Mobility: “The successful test runs of our Velaro Novo test car, which reached a speed of 405.0 km/h today, impressively demonstrate the performance of our latest generation of high-speed trains. Our aim was to gain in-depth insights into acoustics, aerodynamics and driving behaviour at extreme speeds – we have achieved this goal today thanks to the excellent cooperation with DB InfraGO AG and DB Systemtechnik. The Velaro Novo will revolutionise rail transport technology by setting new standards for capacity, economy and efficiency. Such innovations are the key to sustainable and future-orientated mobility.”
Dr Hiie-Mai Unger, Chairwoman of the Management Board of DB Systemtechnik: “Driving innovation forward and successfully positioning rail transport for the future – we at DB Systemtechnik are making an important contribution to this with our test runs. With our “ICE-S” high-speed test train, we were able to gather a lot of important information today, including on acoustics, aerodynamics, driving behaviour and the interaction between train and rail at very high speeds. These findings will help us with further track renovations and in further optimising rail operations and high-speed transport in particular.”
DB Systemtechnik’s ICE-S is mainly used for test and measurement runs. It is used to test new routes, examine the infrastructure and carry out various high-speed tests. It is equipped with extensive measurement technology in order to precisely analyse and optimise the driving conditions on the high-speed lines. The ICE-S therefore plays an essential role in the further development and safeguarding of the performance of the German high-speed network.
The new Velaro Novo from Siemens Mobility is a consistent further development of three Velaro generations. Numerous innovations in detail make the new high-speed train a highly efficient vehicle that consumes up to 30 per cent less energy and significantly reduces investment and maintenance costs. At the same time, the seating capacity has been increased by ten per cent. The Velaro Novo is future-proof thanks to numerous configuration options and can be flexibly adapted to new ideas and requirements of the operators even after years of operation. The Velaro Novo test car with the name #seeitnovo has been trialled on the German long-distance network for several years.
The fast ICE trains in Germany travel at speeds of up to 300 km/h in regular operation. In Germany, these speeds are reached on specially designed high-speed lines, such as those between Berlin and Munich and between Cologne and Frankfurt. These lines have been upgraded accordingly to ensure safe operation at high speeds.
The Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle line, part of the German Unity Transport Project No. 8 (VDE 8), was put into operation in 2015 and is designed for high speeds. Before the test runs, the route was extensively tested by experts. It is still in very good condition. The track is currently closed until 12 July for maintenance and optimisation measures. Among other things, particularly low-maintenance bridge bearings are being installed so that the infrastructure of the high-speed line remains efficient and reliable. Train traffic will be diverted to the parallel route during the closure. The diversions have been incorporated into the timetables.
Leave a Reply