After a series of delays spanning nearly two years, the first train from the new Coradia Max double-decker fleet ordered by Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG) has completed its first high-speed test run in Lower Saxony.
Photos released by LNVG show the unit on test runs near Wolfsburg and Braunschweig. Internally referred to as “DOSTO II,” the train is part of a €760 million procurement awarded to Alstom in 2021. The order was initially scheduled to begin entering service in December 2024, but revised forecasts now expect the first 20 trainsets to be delivered starting in March 2026.
Until the fleet is ready, a temporary replacement concept is in effect to keep regional express lines RE1, RE8, and RE9 operational. These services continue to rely on older double-decker trains and ET 442 EMUs, with reduced comfort, fewer seats, and limited accessibility. Several trains on RE8 and RE9 now operate without Wi-Fi, and barrier-free boarding is only available via manually operated ramps.
The new trains are intended to support flexible operations, including train-splitting in Oldenburg, where services will branch to Norddeich Mole and Wilhelmshaven once the full fleet is available. The Coradia Max units will also feature level boarding, modular bicycle spaces, seat reservation systems, and real-time occupancy data accessible via a passenger app.
The recent test run signals progress for the delayed project, though full passenger service remains more than a year away. Alstom is responsible for delivering all units and maintaining them at a newly built facility in Bremen.
