ICE L on test in the Allgäu
posted on 15th Mar 2026 18:21
Recently the new ICE L was on test runs with DB Fernverkehr's of Class 248.5 Vectron DM to Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region. On 9 March 2026, test runs began from München to the Geislinger Steige. In the evening, the train traveled from Plochingen via the high-speed line to Ulm and via the Illertal line, Memmingen, and Kempten to Immenstadt. From there, it continued on to Lindau Reutin for the night.
On 10 March, the Talgo traveled from Lindau Reutin to Immenstadt, then to Oberstdorf, and in the afternoon via Immenstadt, Kempten, Kaufbeuren, and Buchloe back to München. Operational procedures were rehearsed in Oberstdorf, with measurements taken at some platform edges along the way - see a video here.
ICE L rakes will replace the locomotive-hauled trains formed by IC1 coaches in the course of 2026: from 11 July, the ICE Ls are scheduled to run daily to Oberstdorf as ICE 2012/2013 (now IC 2012/2013 Oberstdorf - Dortmund Hbf and retour). Dual-mode locomotives from Siemens will be used on non-electrified section.
On the photo taken on 10 March 2026, Vectron 248 506 is hauling an ICE L 006 from Oberstdorf, traveling north, shown near Blaichach. It has just crossed the Iller river near Sonthofen, and will soon reach Immenstadt. The Allgäuer Hochalpen are visible in the background. After changing direction in Immenstadt, the test run continued to Kempten, and from there to München.
