The new German double-decker train that everybody HATES!

This is Deutsche Bahn's new Twindexx Intercity 2 train, a controversial addition to the DB fleet. Does this double-decker train really deserve the hate it gets? Let's find out today, as I travel from Nuremburg to Stuttgart in First Class.

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Journey Details:
Origin: Nürnberg Hbf
Destination: Stuttgart Hbf
Company: Deutsche Bahn (DB)
Train: DB 147.5 + Intercity 2 'Twindexx Vario'
Accommodation: First Class Seat (1st)
Distance: 203 kilometres / 126 miles
Price: €33.80 (£28.40 / $34.40)
Time: 2 hours 10 minutes, arrived 9 minutes late

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Find me elsewhere:

[Zugdurchfahrt]

Among Germans this train has earned the nickname Teppich RE, transalating to carpet Regional train, which describes it pretty well

[xBris]

The IC2 is a RE with white paint. Not more, not less. People complain, because of this re-branding. If they just call it "RE", nobody would complain. But by branding it as "IC" they make more money... Same with some former IC routes which are now converted to ICE without actually improving travel times. It's all about making more and more money and therefore it's fair to complain.

[namenamename]

I think most of the dislike for these trains comes not necessarily from what they are, but from what they are marketed as. As medium distance trains, they seem perfectly pleasant, but they carry the once prestigeous InterCity name. An IC without a restaurant car and somewhat tight double deck interior just doesn't feel right, even if it's totally fine on medium distance journeys.
They weirdly fit right into the former product category of InterRegio that was discontinued in the 2000s, medium to long distance trains that also serve smaller places which otherwise wouldn't get intercity services. In fact, some IC2 routes are basically reintroductions of old IR lines. I wonder what the public perception of these trains would be if they were marketed as "the new InterRegio".
There's one quirk of the trains I wanna mention: They are loco hauled, as shown in the video, but they act as fixed units. That means that you can't separate any car, including the locomotive, from the set outside of a maintainance facility. IIRC that allows the doors to be centrally monitored from the cab, which wouldn't otherwise be possible, but the disadvantage is that if the locomotive breaks, you can't replace it easily and a rescue loco will have to haul the broken one with it as dead weight, or more likely, the train just gets cancelled outright.

[antonnurwald]

Hey, I LOVE these!!! For one specific reason: i have two young kids, and the family area in most long distance trains is a disaster: close to the restaurant in the middle of the train, always full, lots of people coming through all the time, it's never relaxed unless you get a spot in the tiny, cramped small kids compartment (which is, well, cramped and tiny). Now on these trains, there is a whole family deck, upstairs, on the end of the train. It's super quiet and relaxed. Nobody bothers you. The kids can roam freely. The ride is super smooth. The view is excellent. Yeah, there is no restaurant, but i don't get to enjoy it anyway. The sandwiches are surprisingly nice, and as long as i get coffee i'm fine.

Edit: And i rode this exact line last summer! It was excellent!

Edit 2: The wide doors and entry areas are also a major plus for everyone who squeezes in with lots of luggage, kids and, god forbid, a stroller.

[derneureuter]

Even though the Twindexx IC2 does not match the quality of the old IC 1, I think the train is somehow ok. The issue that I have with this train that it just does not make sense on the routes I travel (Karlsruhe - Stuttgart). On the same route a regional train (Stadler Flirt 3) is operated which can be used with the 49€ ticket without any extra charge and which is sometimes even scheduled faster than the IC 2.
Same goes for Nürnberg-Stuttgart

[unitedstatesoffugu]

'The new German double-decker train that everybody HATES!' describes a video about a clean, smooth and silent riding train, while 'This is the INCREDIBLE new Dutch high-speed train!' explains to us, that the brand new dutch IC train is annoyingly noisy and evermore so dirty. (from 11:50 in the latter video)
I see someone got indulged in the German art of complaining about everything :D

[fettpiek]

You mentioned the pretty well top speed of 160km/h. The sad part is that this is the top speed of most double decker RE trains and many other RE trains. The old IC's have a top speed of 200km/h.

[forestcat]

"well maintained german track system" you gotta be joking

[raileon]

The thing is, the old Intercity was *the* premium product of DB back when it was introduced. The legendary TEE trains were included in the IC scheme.
So IC's were the fastest and most comfortable way to travel on German rails. When the ICE was introduced, this changed and the classic IC had to find a new role. But for years, the difference was mostly just the speed (IC up to 200km/h, ICE depending on the specific train 230-320km/h) and the age of the trains and sort of playing into that their comfort (partly still manual doors on IC, louder background noises, only partially fitted with AC etc.). But the rest was mostly the same.
And I think the IC 2 is a continuation of the differentiation process that DB is trying to achieve here. They're trying to downgrade it to make it distinct from ICE trains and to be able to offer long distance services (which in Germany are not subsidised at all, they have to make a profit!) to smaller towns and cities which otherwise may not get it.
That's the reason why DB introduced the extended IC line from Nürnberg to Leipzig via Bamberg, Saalfeld and Jena. While that line used to have ICE connections to Berlin and Munich every two hours, as soon as the high speed line opened, they all disappeared and moved to the HSL. All that was left was a single IC per day. Now they turned it up to five per day.
That's what the new IC brand is meant for. Long distance services for smaller lines away from high speed corridors at reasonable prices. But with a clear distinction in comfort from DB's premium offer. So yea, you can complain all you like, but I believe it was intentional. Maybe not in this specific way which is essentially just a white painted regional train fitted with carpet (Teppich-RE) but a clear downgrade to its ICE's.
That's at least my opinion.

[arnonuehm]

Your German pronunciation is really impressive! Certainly more impressive than these trains. ;)
I'd like to see a comparison video with the other IC trains btw (the Stadler ones).

[Trainspotting_Trips]

I love the style and the narration of your videos! I really enjoyed this one!

Keep up your work! ☺️❤️

Greetings from Switzerland!

[JamesTrifolium]

You know it's gonna be good when the locomotive looks like it's wearing a container.

[StSdijle]

honestly, your closing comment is well on point. IC1 is replaced mostly by ICE 4 or ICE L trains; only secondary routes are served by IC 2. As someone travelling between major cities on a daily basis, it's rare that I spend more than an hour or two in one of those and then they are just fine. Germany's national sport is complaining, just keep that in mind ;)

[hape]

6:24 Johann Sebastian Bach never visited Ansbach, let alone lived there.

[tobiassternberg]

Tangential note, but the remark at 6:29 is incorrect - Bach never lived in (or, as far as it seems to be known, even visited) Ansbach. Perhaps there is some confusion with Arnstadt here?

[FLTech]

No restaurant being on the train is the biggest disappointment for me.

[aaron_xdd]

Go-Ahead is now owned by ÖBB which makes it an Austrian operator.

[arokh]

Germans: Hate the train.

Australians: I wish we had such a luxurious service for such short intercity hops.

[TRANSPORTEXCELLENCE]

12:06 I really want to see you make a video on this train.😊

[NoBSTravelChannel]

I recently went on the double decker from Munich to Stuttgart. As a British person I was absolutely blown away by it. If we had that back home we'd be closer to having a decent railway network, but saying that..ours would probably break down every 5 minutes and be delayed by a year.