Danish State Railways MG “IC4”

The MG is a diesel multiple unit ordered by the Danish DSB from AnsaldoBreda of Italy. Each set consists of four cars which are riding on Jacobs bogies. Each car contains a 750 hp Iveco V8 that transmits its power to one axle via a mechanical gearbox. Each set offers 208 seats and up to four sets can work in multiple. Top speed is 200 km/h, what is 20 km/h more compared to the MF they were to replace. While the MF is also called “IC3”, the MG is called “IC4”.

83 sets were ordered in 2000, with the target to place them into service between 2004 and 2006. Already the first deliveries were delayed, accompanied by many problems of different nature. The first one could only be put into limited service in 2008 and in 2011, all had to be removed from service for eight months. The DSB had to lease ICE-TD multiple units and double-decker cars from Germany until a sufficient number of MG sets were again ready for service.

Despite these problems, DSB ordered 23 additional similar MP multiple units from AnsaldoBreda. These were not successful either and so between 2013 and 2016, five MG sets and all MP sets were withdrawn. In the following years, DSB scrapped some and tried to sell others to other operators. Meanwhile, most MG which remain in service went into commuter service and only a few are being used in intercity service as planned.