The Danish operator DSB says it is to increase — by more than 10% — the capacity of the eight Talgo Intercity trains ordered in February 2020. From a capacity of 442 seats in the initial order, DSB has decided to increase the number of carriages and the trains’ capacity to 492 seats, after experiencing an increase in ticket sales for international transport — particularly to Hamburg — between 2019 and the outbreak of the global pandemic caused by Covid-19.

Denmark’s promotion of rail largely drove this increase as an environment-friendly alternative to — for example — air travel.

DSB chose the Talgo 230 ‘platform’ as the new train model for its fleet to reduce the carbon footprint of its transport system. The Talgo 230 to be manufactured for DSB will run at a maximum commercial speed of 200kph, be wider than those of the competition, offer more interior space for passengers, and allow full accessibility throughout the train. This train model was also chosen by European operator Deutsche Bahn in 2019.

In February 2020, following a tender open to railway manufacturers from all over the world, DSB awarded Talgo with the contract for the renewal of the major part of its passenger vehicle fleet.

The first order under the framework contract, worth 500 million euros, involves the supply of eight trains.