ICE 3neo to run to Poland and France

On 10 July 2025, Deutsche Bahn announced that it plans to expand the operation of its Class 408 high-speed trains to new international destinations. By 2032, it plans to invest 200 million EUR to adapt up to 32 of these units for use in Poland and France, which means that ICEs will run from Berlin to Warszawa for the first time; ICEs have been running in France for a long time (starting with the ICE 3M / ICE 3MF of Class 406 since 2007).

For this purpose, DB has commissioned Siemens Mobility to modify and approve a new subversion of the Velaro MS units. At present 408 041 is already being tested on the Źmigród circuit. ICE has already been seen in this Polish center, but it was not a true high-speed train, but a non-traction unit Talgo 230 or ICE L, which type was to start operation in 2023, and is now significantly delayed.

On the first photo are in the test base visible:
- FLIRT DMU L-4587 03 for Slovenske Železnice. The vehicle is being tested for homologation for Austria and Croatia. Stadler currently has homologation for Slovenia and had delivered 6 of the 20 ordered units to the customer.
- FLIRT EMUs L-4577 01 and 02 for Valle d’Aosta. The vehicles are currently being tested for homologation for Italy. Four units have been built, with production of the last two vehicles scheduled to begin in mid-August.

Approval of the modified variant of the Class 408s should be achieved by 2031. The ATP and other equipment for Poland and France will then be fitted at the Krefeld works to new-built units, which wlll form part of the batch of total of 90 trains. DB initially ordered 30 Velaro MS EMUs in July 2020, another 43 in January 2022 and the remaining 17 in May 2023. The first Class 408 trains entered service in December 2022.

We asked the operator:

1) Why did DB decide to operate high-speed trains to Warszawa when there is no high-speed line on this route? Does it seem relevant to DB to spend, say, 100 million EUR on a Polish authorisation to operate the 320 km/h train on the line with a maximum speed of 160 km/h? Wouldn't, for example, the ICE L or the "normal" 160 km/h trains be sufficient for this?
2) Does DB expect to also run on a new Polish high speed line, the CPK, if (theoretically) a line from Łódź to Warszawa is to be opened around 2032? Or later, around 2035 (theoretically), also the section from Łódź to Poznań?
3) Does DB also plan to operate destinations in Poland other than Warszawa? For example, Wrocław or Katowice?
4) When (month) was the contract for the approval of the Class 408 for Poland and France awarded to Siemens?
5) Does this mean that up to 32 Class 408 trains will be technically adapted so that they have not yet been firmly ordered? So, that this is a framework agreement? How many trains have been firmly ordered with this authorisation?
6) Does this mean that each of the (possible) 32 ICE 3neos will be authorised for France AND Poland simultaneously? Or, for example, that half will be authorised for France only and half for Poland only?
7) This new Polish-French approval means that the delivery schedule for some of the trains has been adjusted, which then extends until 2032, thus they will be delivered four years later than planned, see.
8) Will DB not miss the 32 trains, approximately one-third of the complete 90-strong order, in operation for four years (2028 - 2032)? Especially considering the already (constantly) tense situation with the ICE family? Even more so given that several Class 408s will run to Amsterdam instead of ICE L (for an unknown period)?

DB answered us: „Of the 90 ICE 3neo trains ordered, up to 32 trains can be equipped for the two countries. The equipped trains will be able to travel to both France and Poland. We ask for your understanding that we cannot comment on further contract details or questions about future timetables at this time. The decision on the exact timetable is still pending and is still some time in the future. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about the service when the timetable change is due after the ICE 3neo is equipped."

Siemens additionally specified the following: "As part of the approval activities, a type approval for the planned trains is to be obtained for the countries Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and France. Production and delivery of the units will be extended until 2032. Some vehicles already delivered to DB will then be retrofitted with the country packages as soon as type approval for France and Poland is obtained."