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 Velaro D in Stuttgart (Germany) | |||||||||
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Siemens Velaro is a family of high-speed electric multiple unit trains built by Siemens. It is based on the ICE 3 high-speed trains initially co-manufactured by Siemens and Bombardier for German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB).
In 1994, Deutsche Bahn were the first to order 50 units of the high-speed trains, branded as ICE 3, that would eventually evolve into the Velaro family. This initial batch of ICE-3 trainsets was built by a consortium with Bombardier (acquired by Alstom), and first delivered for service in 1999. A version based on this train without Bombardier patents was developed by Siemens and has been marketed as Velaro since. Velaro derivatives have been introduced in Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Russia, and Turkey.
In July 2006, a Siemens Velaro train-set (AVE S-103) reached 403.7 km/h (250.8 mph), which was the world record for railed and unmodified commercial service trainsets.[1]
In 2018, Siemens announced a major design iteration termed Velaro Novo.[2] Private American rail company Brightline West was the first to select the Velaro Novo for its fleet in May 2024.[3]
- ^ "First passengers travel on world record train Velaro". Erlangen, Germany: Siemens Transportation Systems. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
- ^ "Siemens reveals Velaro Novo high-speed train concept". International Railway Journal. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022.
- ^ Uranga, Rachel (3 May 2024). "A first view of what the high-speed rail to Las Vegas might look like". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 3 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.