http://railcolornews.com/2017/03/03/eu-deutsche-bahn-tenders-for-zugverbanden-lokomotiven-und-wagenzuge/
https://goo.gl/JwvuAS
[EU] Deutsche Bahn tenders for loco-hauled long distance passenger trains
Written by Railcolor Headquarters on 03.03.2017
The German railways (DB) are renewing their fleet for long distance traveling.
We are just months away from the start of serie-delivery of the new ICE4
trains, that should enter revenue earning service next December. Some sets
are already in ‘test service’ now between Hamburg and Munich.
Image above: Impression made by Railcolordesign.com, it has no relation to
Deutsche Bahn
Originally, in 2011, DB wanted to order both multi-system and AC voltage ICE4
trains, so they could be deployed in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and in DC
voltage countries such as the Netherlands. But these plans have changed over
time. The multi-system version was taken out of the program. Now, the ICE4
will be operated in Germany (homologation done) and Switzerland (in process).
DB has stated that homologation for Austria is also still desired, but will
be realized on a later moment.
ICE 4 trainset. Photo: Deutsche Bahn
Now DB has released a new tender for a framework agreement for newly built “
Zugverbänden (Lokomotiven und Wagenzüge)”: train compositions (locomotives
and loco-hauled rakes for passenger services). They need to be single-deck
and operable in Germany, Austria and “other European countries”.
Manufacturers can apply independently or as consortium.
Also, the manufacturer(s) must have produced a mainline train type that has
been fully approved for Austria and the Netherlands during the past five
years. It/They should have production capacity for at least twenty trains per
year, starting in 2021. One composition should have at least 485 seats.
You can read the whole tender here: ted.europa.eu
Railcolor: Is ordering loco-hauled stock for passenger service by the German
railways breaking with the trend to focus on articulated trains? Yes and no.
True, loco-hauled trains do not have a distributed power system, they are
more flexible as you can add or take-out coaches, in theory. In practice we
see that trains such as the Railjet from Austria, the Intercity Direct in the
Netherlands and DB’s own IC2 double deck trains are operated in fixed
compositions too, only locomotives change rake every now and then. Not
changing the composition of the train, is often preferred because on
economical arguments. An operator then saves on costs for the logistics of
shunting and having coaches available at strategic locations. When more
capacity is needed, than often two trains are coupled together.
‘Intercity 2’: The loco-hauled train as fixed unit. Photo: Deutsche Bahn