Germany’s first crowdfunded train set off from Stuttgart on 14 December 2016. The 1970s renovated train received funding from around 1,300 people, including via advanced ticket sales.
The Locomore trainset is formed of nine refurbished loco-hauled coaches leased from the SRI Rail Invest group. The company will run one daily round trip between Stuttgart and Berlin via Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Kassel and Hannover, and plans to launch additional services linking Bonn to Berlin and Binz, and Frankfurt to Munich.
The company prides itself on its environmental credentials. There is ample space for carrying bicycles, a range of vegetarian food in the buffet car, and electrical power provided by green energy supplier, Naturstrom AG.
Locomore seeks to attract road and air travellers with its unique selling points, including low ticket fares. ‘Social Seating’ encourages passengers to connect with each other around shared interests, such as Start-up Networking, Spanish Conversation, Board Games, Literature, and Knitting, as well as the traditional Quiet Coach. Icomera has supplied its technically-advanced Wi-Fi solution, which passengers can enjoy for free on the train’s journey across the country.
