Alstom and DSB receive the prestigious “Red Dot Award” 2024 for the design of the IC5 Coradia Stream regional train

A winning collaboration

The IC5 train is the result of a close and innovative partnership between Alstom and DSB. The collaboration aimed to create a train that reflects the values and meets the needs of the Danish people, embodying both integrity and authenticity.

Jörg Nikutta, Managing Director of Alstom Denmark, says about receiving the award:"We are very proud that the IC5 trains have received the Red Dot Award 2024 for 'product design'. Our goal was to design the train of the future, expressing both integrity and authenticity. This award is the result of our collaboration with DSB, where we have managed to create a timeless design that is inviting for passengers, and it is gratifying to be confirmed that we have succeeded in doing just that."

The interior of the new IC5 Coradia Stream trains reflects Alstom's latest design principles incorporating natural materials like genuine wood and raw metal. Alstom, in partnership with DSB, has crafted a timeless design, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for passengers. Furthermore, the interior lighting is carefully designed to assist passengers in navigation while enhancing the overall experience with different brightness levels and harmonious colour combinations.

"We are incredibly proud to receive this recognition for our upcoming IC5 trains, even before they are ready to roll out on the tracks. From the beginning, we have focused on creating a unique and pleasant customer experience with a timeless expression. The award is a testament to DSB's focus and tradition of combining functionality with aesthetics. We look forward to our customers enjoying this," says Jürgen Müller, Director of Strategy and Train Equipment.

The design journey

The creation of the IC5 train design took place in two phases; first, Alstom developed a design draft, and subsequently, the design was adapted through close and ongoing collaboration with DSB resulting in the now award-winning IC5 Coradia Stream trains:

• Proposal Phase: During the proposal phase, Alstom's Advanced & Creative Design Department worked with the renowned Danish design agency Johannes Torpe to create the first draft of the IC5 Coradia Stream train. This phase focused on integrating the core values of integrity and authenticity into the design.
• Design Phase: After the contract was awarded, Alstom and DSB engaged in an intensive design process. The goal was to improve the user experience for Danish passengers, drivers, and staff, ensuring that the final product radiates Danish design and aligns with DSB's brand. Tools such as mock-ups and virtual reality were used to test and refine the solutions. User surveys were conducted with various DSB user groups to evaluate and agree on different design elements, ensuring that the train meets the diverse needs of users.

Alstom and DSB centred their efforts around two key principles in Danish design: Simplicity and Functionalism. The result is a minimalist and cohesive design that is both visually pleasing and easy to navigate. Throughout the design phase, Alstom and DSB aimed to create an exterior and interior with a timeless appeal, prioritising comfort and quality. The material palette was carefully chosen to complement DSB's visual identity and establish a strong connection to nature, ensuring DSB's brand remains easily identifiable throughout the train's lifespan.

Top-class exterior and interior

Exterior: The IC5 Coradia Stream train's exterior presents clean, functional shapes and colors, with an aerodynamic front shape, bold DSB-red paint, a black band integrating window heights, and light gray external doors with large displays. The design enhances driving comfort, reduces energy consumption, increases stability, and ensures passenger safety through controlled shock absorption.

Interior: The train's interior offers a modern and comfortable travel experience with spacious and bright passenger areas, high-quality materials, comfortable seats, individual facilities, flexible and accessible areas, a self-service area, and an advanced passenger information system. The design meets the needs of all user groups in terms of access and space in a safe environment.

The celebration of succes

The winners of the "Red Dot Award" 2024 will be celebrated at the Red Dot Award Ceremony in Germany on June 24, 2024. The award highlights the exceptional design and innovation behind the IC5 train and underscores Alstom and DSB's commitment to delivering first-class sustainable rail solutions.

IC5 – part of the Coradia Stream family 

The new IC5 train is based on Alstom’s state-of-the-art, low-floor, high-performance Coradia Stream Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) and meets today’s demands of regional and intercity transport. The Coradia Stream train offers a modular design, allowing operators to choose the configuration and interior that work best for their market and commercial strategy. In total, over 1000 trains based on the Coradia Stream train family have already been ordered by Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands among others, ensuring the trains are a well-proven product. The train family offers versions with zero direct carbon emissions such as battery or hydrogen for non-electrified lines, making it a special high-capacity solution that completes the portfolio. In addition, Alstom’s sustainable approach to services considers the entire life cycle of the product, from initial design to end of life, which will maximise the value of DSB’s asset.

The IC5 Coradia Stream trains are adapted to meet the requirements of the Danish rail network and its top speed of 200 km/h will help ensure swift mobility across the country. They are prerequisites for being able to take full advantage of the major infrastructure projects on the railway that are currently being carried out, such as electrification and new signals.

The IC5 trains will replace the IC3, IC4, IR4 and Øresund trains. These will be continuously phased out, and will operate as both high-speed, intercity and regional trains.

Materials in the new IC5 trains are all inspired from Danish design tradition and offer, among other things, seat fabric with a high proportion of wool, which means that the seats will avoid environmentally harmful surface treatment. In addition, all products and materials are eco-labelled and up to 96% of the train can be recycled. The IC5 train has five carriages with 300 seats. The carriages have low entry, good flex areas for bicycles and prams, and even more places for storing luggage than the existing trains.

Alstom has been present in Denmark for 20 years, having sold over 500 regional trains in the country, as well as world-class signalling solutions. In Denmark, Alstom is currently delivering the ERTMS signalling solutions for Banedanmark for Trackside in Eastern Denmark, and for on-board equipment nationwide.

Alstom™ and Coradia Stream™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.