ČD's Vectron230 locomotives to haul Talgo 230s
posted on 19th Feb 2026 08:24
On 28 Jnauary 2026, locomotive 384.004 was moved to Germany on train rj 176 "Berliner" Praha hl. n. - Berlin Hbf for the purpose of test runs with the DB Talgo non-traction multiple unit, as from 1 May, Class 384 is to take over the hauling of ICE L trains from ČD‘s Class 193. Following a test run on 29 January between Berlin and Wolfsburg, the locomotive 384.001 returned to the Czech Republic on 30 January on the rj 385 "Berliner" Berlin Hbf - Praha hl. n.
Regular operation of Talgo 230s by DB began on 14 December 2025 on the Berlin - Köln route, with a pair of ICE 1548 Berlin Ostbahnhof (6.55) - Köln (12.09) and ICE 1055 Köln (15.36) - Berlin Ostbf (21.02). At the beginning, Deutsche Bahn had sets 06 and 07 at its disposal.
Despite the Talgo 230s are non-motorized units they are referred to by the operator similarly to (real) high-speed ICE units with the letters Tz, which is an abbreviation for "Triebzug" or power unit. They are (will be) numbered 1801 - 1860 (in December 2025, the order was reduced from 79 to 60 ICE Ls). The first two rakes put into service are therefore designated Tz 1806 and 1807, and at the end of December Tz 1808 was added to them, but it was not put into service until the first week of January 2026.
The name "Triebzug" is a bit misleading, even when taking into account the attached locomotive, because until now this term has been understood for complete traction units, while in the ICE L the traction is separable. In addition, the Class 105 electric locomotives will be switched to diesel locomotives for operation on non-electrified sections, more precisely to dual-power Vectrons, i. e. a completely different type of locomotive.
The fact that EDMUs would be a better solution in many respects, including the fact that there would be no long wait for the train to be fully approved for both directions of travel, and that the situation would not be further complicated by several types of locomotives, including temporary replacement ones, is just a note for thought.
Since the Talgo-built Class 105s has not yet been approved, DB Fernverkehr initially hired Vectrons 193 440, 441 and 448 from the ELL to operate the ICE L. However, since the entry of the 2026 timetable, the first ICE L services have been operated by two ČD Vectrons, which are helping to meet the agreed diagrams of ČD locomotives at DB network during the reconstruction of the Berlin - Hamburg line, due to which all "Berliner"s end/start in Berlin. Initially, the ICE Ls were operated by Vectrons 193 977 and 981, but they are being replaced continuously according to maintenance needs.
Since only the Class 384 is currently the only available locomotive with a maximum speed of 230 km/h, these Vectrons will provisionally be used instead of the Class 105s from May 2026. In the first phase, however, even the Class 384s will run at a maximum speed of 200 km/h.
Only after successfully verifying their operability at 230 km/h under DB conditions, they will be able to run at the front of an ICE L at this speed (unless the Class 105 locomotives has been approved in the meantime). We deliberately write “at the front”, because the control of the Class 384 Vectrons from the driving trailers of the Talgo 230 is not expected.
DB responded to our inquiry: "We currently have four ICE L sets in our fleet. They are approved for a maximum speed of 230 km/h, and between Berlin and Köln they are currently running at a maximum speed of 200 km/h as planned. The trains are currently only being pulled, as approval for pushed operation is still awaited. Talgo is working on this in connection with the approval process for the Class 105 locomotives. It is true that we have carried out tests with the Class 384 locomotive. We will continue to lease Vectrons for the ICE L - the provider will be determined through a tender procedure."
