On September 11, Denmark welcomed its first “train of the future.” Unit 04 entered the country via Padborg and proceeded to its dedicated workshop in Copenhagen, where it was officially presented to the press on September 18.
This year, DSB’s IC5 / Litra ES project has expanded into an impressive 153-unit program, valued at around 20 billion DKK. The contract also includes 30 years of maintenance by manufacturer Alstom. Initially, 100 units were ordered in 2021, earlier this year it was announced an additional 50 were added to the program. The final three were added to the backlog to offset delays, as the first trains—originally expected to enter commercial service in 2024—are now scheduled for 2027.
The arrival of the first train in Denmark marks the beginning of dynamic trials in the country. Testing is already underway abroad, including runs at the VUZ Velim test center in Czechia. The five-car trains are designed for a top speed of 200 km/h.
About ‘ES 2504’
The first train presented in Copenhagen was fitted with a complete interior. An excellent video of the event by Kenny’s Film offers a full tour inside the train. Compared to the 2023 mock-up, the interior atmosphere remains unchanged. DSB opted for a distinguished design, combining darker grey tones with wood finishes on the seat backs. As planned, the train includes three toilets (one PRM), place for up to 12 bicycle, and two wheelchair spaces.
Litra ES / IC5 is a variant of Alstom’s Coradia Stream platform that is already known in a growing number of countries such as the Netherlands and Italy. The Danish version got its own cab design. They will replace DSB’s older generation fleets (IC3, IC4, IR4) which the operator is currently using for intercity and regional services.
