Franconia-Thuringia Express and Siemens trains on Nuremberg-Erfurt high-speed line

Germany's fastest regional train, the Franconia-Thuringia Express (FTX), operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB), has commenced service on the Nuremberg-Erfurt high-speed line. The modern Siemens trains, ordered by the Free States of Bavaria and Thuringia, will reach speeds of up to 190 kilometers per hour. This marks the first time regional trains will operate on the northern section of the VDE 8.1 line, previously exclusive to long-distance trains. Bavaria’s Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter, DB Group Representative Heiko Büttner, and Siemens Mobility's Karl Blaim inaugurated the service at Coburg railway station, launching the first journey to Erfurt, where Thuringia’s Infrastructure Minister Susanna Karawanskij welcomed the train.

The new RE 29 line (Nuremberg – Bamberg – Coburg – Erfurt) provides the first direct regional connection between Nuremberg and Erfurt, reducing travel time to 1 hour 53 minutes and cutting the previous duration in half. Passengers traveling between Coburg and Erfurt will particularly benefit, with travel time reduced to just 36 minutes without the need to change trains, compared to over three hours and two transfers previously required. This improvement is expected to be highly popular among local commuters, day trippers, and business travelers, facilitated by affordable local transport fares like the Deutschlandticket.

Thuringia’s Minister for Infrastructure and Agriculture, Susanna Karawanskij, highlighted the convenience of regional travel between key cities in the region, emphasizing the environmental and cost benefits. The new trains offer modern amenities such as WiFi, advanced passenger information systems, and ample space for bicycles, enhancing comfort and accessibility. This development not only improves regional connectivity but also supports sustainable and traffic-free travel.

Heiko Büttner from DB and Karl Blaim from Siemens Mobility praised the new trains for their advanced technology and increased capacity. The new Desiro HC trains, designed for high-speed service on the VDE 8.1 line, include features like special high-frequency windows for better mobile reception and can accommodate 634 passengers and up to 60 bicycles. The introduction of these trains, along with increased service frequency and new routes, particularly benefits northern Bavaria, improving connections to major cities and enhancing overall regional transport efficiency.