NoBo, DeBo and testing services for new ICE3neo (Velaro MS) for Siemens Mobility

On time approval for use of the trains by Deutsche Bahn and its international partners to operate the Velaro MS from day one of the European Football Championship.

Following specialist technical support from Ricardo’s rolling stock test experts, Siemens was able to secure the required approvals for its ICE3neo (Velaro MS) vehicles to commence cross-border passenger operation in time for the European Football Championship (UEFA EURO 2024) taking place in Germany.

The trainsets first entered operation on the German network in late 2022 as part of a €1 billion investment by Deutsche Bahn into its mainline fleet. The vehicles initially operated between the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and Munich via the high-speed Cologne-Rhine-Main line, increasing Deutsche Bahn's daily passenger capacity on these routes by 13,000 seats. Ahead for the introduction of the vehicles, Ricardo Certification provided Notified Body services, since 2020 and verified the new ICE3neo trains in terms of their compliance with the European TSI regulations including the quality management system of the production process.

To allow services to cross the border and operate on sections of Belgian and Dutch network, Siemens sought to submit to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) a formal application for an Extension of the Area of use.

Appointed in September 2022 to provide certification testing services, our team began planning the necessary measurements and testing of the traction system, ETCS and pantograph that would be required as part of the process. 

Within just a few months, testing took place at the Wildenrath test track in North Rhine-Westphalia, the ProRail ETCS test lab (PREI) in Amersfoort and on several Dutch infrastructure lines.

By December 2023, with the test reports and assessments complete, the updated Notified Body file and the Dutch Designated Body file and certificates could be presented to Siemens, enabling them to submit their application to ERA.

During the subsequent assessment phase by ERA and ILT Ricardo participated by providing further statements and information with regards to the assessments and certifications carried out.

Having contributed to the timely completion of the approvals process in May 2024, we were happy to see Deutsche Bahn and its international partners starting commercial service of the ICE3neo (Velaro MS) from day one of the European football tournament.

Picture: Joeri du Bois
ICE3neo (Velaro MS) train set 8010 as ICE 153 from Amsterdam to Frankfurt, at Utrecht Central station, 14-06-2024. This is the first deployment of the ICE3neo (Velaro MS) from Amsterdam to Germany with passengers.