>>1283908>>1283928As for
>whyInitially DB planned to replace all of the old IC rolling stock with new ICx EMU sets, which are now known as ICE4, until 2023. The modernization of old IC stock happened between 2012 and 2014 and was initiated to bridge the time until enough ICx EMUs were available for replacement. It was never intended to be a long-lasting thorough modernization. But since neither ICE4 nor IC2, the Intercity variant of Bombardier's double-deck push-pull sets, can be used for certain IC/EC lines due to various specifications that make them unfitting, DB decided to start a tender in 2017 for conventional rolling stock for these problematic lines.
I think for most people it was truly a surprise that DB settled for Talgo as their supplier for said tender, although it might make sense that they did not settle for their usual main suppliers Siemens and Bombardier due to all the problems they caused in the last decade (and probably lacking capacities too). There lots of speculation how they're going to handle the last frew through coach connections, but nothing official yet.
