The Munich-based mobility group Flix, known for Flixbus and Flixtrain, is planning a significant expansion of its rail subsidiary. The company is negotiating with the Spanish railway technology manufacturer Talgo about the purchase of up to 63 new train sets with a total value of approximately one billion euros. These state-of-the-art Talgo 230 trains, which are largely equivalent to Deutsche Bahn's ICE L, are intended to expand Flixtrain's route network and significantly increase travel comfort for passengers.
The planned Talgo trains for Flixtrain, which will be visually distinct from DB's ICE L, are based on the proven Talgo 230 platform. This model is already being delivered to Deutsche Bahn and the Danish state railway DSB. With this investment, Flixtrain aims to establish an even stronger position in the German railway market, where the company is already Deutsche Bahn's most significant competitor. Talgo CEO Gonzalo Urquijo confirmed the talks with the Flix Group during an analyst conference. Delivery of the trains is scheduled for two tranches.
The trains for Flixtrain will consist of a locomotive, a variable number of intermediate cars, and a control car, similar to the propulsion concept of the Railjet. A special feature of the Talgo trains is the low-floor design throughout the entire train set, which allows step-free access at platform level and thus significantly improves accessibility. The trains are manufactured in Rivabellosa, Spain. While Talgo currently produces numerous trains of this type for DB and DSB, there have been delivery delays in the past. Vectron dual-mode locomotives from Siemens Mobility, which can be used on routes with and without overhead lines, are expected to be considered as traction for the new Flixtrain trains.
Flixtrain had already attempted to purchase trains from the Russian manufacturer Transmashholding in 2022, but this contract was canceled following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Flixtrain also recently acquired up to 100 used Intercity1 carriages from Deutsche Bahn to expand its existing network in Germany and Sweden. The first trains with these carriages are scheduled to enter service this summer on routes such as Mainz–Berlin, Stuttgart, and Basel. The planned acquisition of the new Talgo trains thus represents another important step for Flixtrain to significantly increase its capacity and comfort in long-distance transport.
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