Flixtrain ordered Talgo 230 NMUs

On  27 May 2025 Flix has awarded Talgo an around 2.4 billion EUR contract for the supply of up to 65 non-traction multiple units from the Talgo 230 platform, with an initial firm order of 30 NMUs worth near 1,060 million EUR. The contract also includes the maintenance of all units during a 15-year period.

The Talgo rakes will be supplied without locomotives, with each unit to be composed by a driving trailer, a variable number of intermediate coaches (including one for PRMs), and an end-coach to be used as the interface with the locomotive. Talgo stated: „The manufacturer was selected after an open competitive process including other top-tier global train constructors and following a months-long period in which a joint task force with personnel from both companies undertook the necessary preliminary works to prepare for the final project specifications.“

The Talgo 230 NMUs are to be authorised for Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, and they will be hauled by Vectrons - like these DSB units (instead of TRAVCA locomotives, produced for DB‘s ICE L units).

We asked FlixTrain:
1) When the first batch of Talgo units is scheduled for delivery?
2) What maximum and minimum length (how many cars) will be defined for your Talgo units?
3) How many Vectrons will FlixTrain order (or rent)? When the contract was (will be) signed?
4) Where does FlixTrain expect to have the depots for maintenance of the Talgo trains?
5) Will FlixTrain withdrawn all the ex-DB coaches following arrival of Talgo units?
We are waiting for an answer.

Flix CEO and co-founder André Schwämmlein: “We are pursuing a long-term strategy with FlixTrain and we will significantly expand our services in the coming years. With the tremendous expansion of our train fleet we will start a new era of train travel in Germany and Europe. We do not only plan to increase our market share, but also to increase the market itself significantly”.

Flix, launched in 2013, offers long-distance bus- and train travel solutions in more than 40 countries across four continents through its brands FlixBus, FlixTrain, Kamil Koç, and Greyhound. In Germany, FlixTrain has been active in long-distance rail transport since 2018. Today, FlixTrain directly links around 50 cities, with an additional 600 that are bookable through cooperation with regional train services.