Siemens Velaro Novo: new high-speed train

S iemens is developing a new generation of high-speed trains under the name Velaro Novo. Siemens has been supplying customers all over the world with rail vehicles for many years, including in Turkey and China. Velaro trains operate under the English Channel under the name Eurostar. The Velaro series is also in use in Germany, just under a different name. Deutsche Bahn uses the name ICE (Inter City Express) for its express trains.

Flexible interior design like in an airplane

The Velaro Novo is supposed to save more than 30 percent energy compared to the previous model and still be faster: up to 360 km /h travel speed are possible. Series production is scheduled to start in 2023. As in aircraft construction, Siemens plans to offer completely freely configurable interiors for the Velaro Novo for the first time. Railway companies in different countries can therefore determine the seating and the division of compartments themselves. Airlines proceed in a similar way with aircraft, for example from Airbus or Boeing.

Sensors and cameras on board the Velaro Novo should be able to detect the condition of the route and report any necessary repair or maintenance work to a control center. This should enable high-speed lines to be operated with less risk of delays and breakdowns. The Velaro Novo should not only be more intelligent and economical than its predecessor, but also be cheaper to use with significantly lower operating costs.

Deutsche Bahn without the Velaro Novo for the time being?

Siemens

The current ICE 4.

The new Velaro generation should first take rails abroad. According to media reports, Deutsche Bahn has ordered 119 new ICE-4 trains from the Siemens-Bombardier consortium. The contract is supposed to be aHave a volume of 5.3 billion euros and provide for the delivery of the vehicles by 2023.

The top speed of 360 km /h announced for the Velaro Novo will probably not be drivable on German railways anyway. The stations are too close together with an average of 50 kilometers apart. On the new Berlin-Munich route opened in 2017, the ICE used there reaches a speed of 300 km /h. This shortens the travel time between the two cities by two to just under four hours. The prerequisite is the booking of an ICE 'Sprinter' which only stops en route in Halle, Erfurt and Nuremberg. A regular ICE takes a good half an hour more for the 623 kilometer route.