We attach great importance to ensuring our trains' service lives are as long as possible. Our ICE trains, for example, have a service life of at least 30 years. In order for them to reach this impressive age, we carry out a redesign on them about halfway through their service life. The train's exterior remains essentially unchanged, but inside we overhaul many components and replace any parts that cannot be reconditioned, for example seats.
Our first- and second-generation ICE trains and many regional trains have already been rejuvenated in this way. By 2024, we will also have upgraded our ICE 3 vehicles. This work entails modernizing the passenger area, installing energy-efficient LED lighting and replacing component parts, to ensure more stable technology on the trains.
In terms of material costs, a redesign is up to 80 percent cheaper than buying a new train, and it also keeps usage of valuable natural resources low. We also modernize trains in local and regional transport. Among other things, we have fitted the S-Bahn trains in Hamburg and in the RheinNeckar network with new lights, seats and floors.
