Legendary GDR express train SVT Görlitz back on the rails after five years of restoration

Background: A flagship train of the Deutsche Reichsbahn

According to the operating company, the restoration cost around 7 million euros. Mario Lieb of SVT Görlitz gGmbH stated: "Künftig soll der Zug regelmäßig bei Sonderfahrten zu erleben sein." This gives a piece of railway history from the GDR era a new perspective in charter service.

The SVT Görlitz is one of the express-service railcars built in the 1960s in a total series of eight units. It was approved for a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour. During its active years, the train once connected Berlin with Prague and Vienna, among other destinations, and was considered the Deutsche Reichsbahn's showpiece vehicle in cross-border passenger service.

Charter trips and planned routes

The planned charter trips will take the train to well-known destinations. These include trips to Prague and Karlsbad, into the Rhine Valley, and to Hamburg and Sylt. A concert visit is also already on the program: on 28 June it will take fans of the band Keimzeit ("Kling Klang") from Dresden to a concert in Cottbus.

The refurbishment of the vehicle is considered exceptionally elaborate because many components had to be specially remanufactured. Over more than five years, the railcar was restored both technically and visually to its original condition. The handover in the Harz marked the conclusion of this phase.

Elaborate restoration over five years

For railway enthusiasts in Saxony, the return is a special event. In Radebeul, where the train arrived on Sunday, fans gathered to see the historic vehicle. The route via Halle and Leipzig also drew attention on the platforms along the way.

With its commissioning, the SVT Görlitz begins a second career as a moving monument. The operator sees the charter trips as an opportunity to make the technical heritage of the Deutsche Reichsbahn accessible to a broad public while also recalling the travel history between East and West.

The report was broadcast on 14.06.2026 on Deutschlandfunk. This means the SVT Görlitz is back on the rails after years of absence – right on time for a series of events in summer 2026.