This report concerns DSB’s procurement of IC5 trains and the Ministry of Transport’s supervision of the procurement.
The purpose of the study is to assess whether DSB’s procurement of IC5 trains has been carried out satisfactorily. Rigsrevisionen answers the following questions in the report:
- Has DSB managed the procurement satisfactorily?
- Has the Ministry of Transport exercised satisfactory supervision of DSB’s conclusion of the contract and expansion of the procurement?
Rigsrevisionen assesses that the handling of DSB’s procurement of IC5 trains is unsatisfactory. DSB’s supplier management has a number of weaknesses. For example, DSB has approved the supplier’s schedules despite considering them unrealistic and has, in some cases, paid for deliverables that were incomplete. Delivery of the trains was delayed again in March 2026, and the trains are now scheduled to be delivered to DSB three years later than originally planned. In our assessment, there is a significant likelihood of further delays. The Ministry of Transport has exercised the required supervision of DSB’s conclusion of the contract. However, the Ministry has not ensured transparency for the Finance Committee regarding the reasons for purchasing 50 additional trains before the first trains have been delivered and DSB has been able to establish their quality.
As a consequence of the delay, passengers will have to travel for longer on the old trains, which carry a greater risk of breakdowns and unreliable operation. DSB also faces direct costs of approximately DKK 1.4 billion, including extraordinary measures to extend the service life of the IC4 trains and the leasing of additional trains. In addition, approximately DKK 2.2 billion in savings will be forgone. Finally, the environmental benefits of the new trains will be realised later than expected.
Rigsrevisionen initiated the study in November 2025.