ICE 3, or Intercity-Express 3, is a family of high-speed
electric multiple unit trains operated by
Deutsche Bahn. It includes classes 403, 406, 407 and 408, which are known as ICE 3, ICE 3M, New ICE 3 and ICE 3neo respectively. Three multisystem trains, known as ICE International, are owned by
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS; ; en, "Dutch Railways") is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands. It is a Dutch state-owned company founded in 1938. The Dutch rail network is one of the busiest in the European Union, and t ...
(NS, Dutch Railways). Based on the ICE 3M/F, Siemens developed its
Siemens Velaro
Siemens Velaro is a family of high-speed electric multiple unit trains built by Siemens and used in Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Russia, and Turkey. The Velaro is based on the ICE 3M/F high-speed ...
train family with versions used in Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Russia and Turkey.
Class 403
![Lounge ICE 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Lounge_ICE_3.jpg)
The design goal of the ICE 3 (Class 403) was to create a higher-powered, lighter train than its predecessors. This was achieved by distributing its 16
traction motor
A traction motor is an electric motor used for propulsion of a vehicle, such as locomotives, electric or hydrogen vehicles, elevators or electric multiple unit.
Traction motors are used in electrically powered rail vehicles ( electric multiple ...
s underneath the whole train. The train is licensed for and has reached on trial runs. On regular
Intercity-Express
The Intercity Express (commonly known as ICE ()) is a system of high-speed trains predominantly running in Germany. It also serves some destinations in Austria, Denmark (ceased in 2017 but planned to resume in 2022), France, Belgium, Switzerl ...
services they run at up to , the maximum design speed of German high-speed lines.
Because the train does not have
power car
In rail transport, the expression power car may refer to either of two distinct types of rail vehicle:
*a vehicle that propels, and commonly also controls, a passenger train, multiple unit or tram, often as the lead vehicle;
*a vehicle equipped ...
s, the whole length of the train is available for passenger seats, including the first car. The ''lounge''-seats are located directly behind the driver, separated only by a glass wall.
The 50 sets were ordered in 1997 and specifically designed for the new
high-speed line between Frankfurt and Cologne. They were built by a consortium led by Siemens and
Adtranz (now
Bombardier Transportation).
On 11 April 2017, Deutsche Bahn announced the modernisation programme called ''ICE 3 Redesign'' for its 66-unit ICE 3 fleet to be completed by the end of 2020. The renovation involves replacing the seats, tables, and floor coverings. The six-seat compartment rooms are eliminated from the second class section to increase the number of seats and add more luggage compartments. In addition, the number of disability seating has been increased to two; however, no integrated wheelchair lift has been installed, and no disability seating is offered in the first-class section. The seats in some Bordrestaurant have been converted to the red bench seating while Bordbistro receives the new stand tables. The cabin illumination is provided by
LED lamp
An LED lamp or LED light bulb is an electric light that produces light using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LED lamps are significantly more energy-efficient than equivalent incandescent lamps
and can be significantly more efficient than mo ...
s, providing more illumination, while the reading lamps are eliminated. The seat reservation panels are moved from the walls above the windows to the seat headrests per EU directive on accessibilities: the new panel has bigger and more visible white lettering and Braille. The yellow LCD information monitors in the antechambers are replaced with larger full-colour
LED display
A LED display is a flat panel display that uses an array of light-emitting diodes as pixels for a video display. Their brightness allows them to be used outdoors where they are visible in the sun for store signs and billboards. In recent ...
s, showing the map, train number, speed, and other pertinent information. The new smaller displays are attached to the ceiling above the aisle throughout the cabins.
Class 406
![ICE 3M KRM](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/ICE_3M_KRM.jpg)
The ICE 3M (Class 406; M for ''multisystem'') was developed to operate international services under the four different
railway electrification systems in use on Europe's main lines and with support for various
train protection system
A train protection system is a railway technical installation to ensure safe operation in the event of human error.
Development
Train stops
The earliest systems were train stops, as still used by the New York City Subway, the Toronto subway, ...
s. The
Deutsche Bahn (DB) ordered 13 of these units in 1994, the NS (
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS; ; en, "Dutch Railways") is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands. It is a Dutch state-owned company founded in 1938. The Dutch rail network is one of the busiest in the European Union, and t ...
) four, making sure that the demands of the Dutch rail network are taken care of. Though these trains carry NS logos, the DB and NS trains together form a pool and therefore, the NS trains may operate DB services as well. In 2007 the train was licensed for operation in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Currently, those trains are used for cross-border runs between Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and France. On the French
LGV Est
The Ligne à Grande Vitesse Est européenne (East European High Speed Line), typically shortened to LGV Est, is a French high-speed rail line that connects Vaires-sur-Marne (near Paris) and Vendenheim (near Strasbourg). The line halved the ...
, some trains reach a regular top speed of .
The 17 class 406 sets were built by the same consortium as the class 403. They were first introduced in November 2000 on services between Cologne and Amsterdam. Since December 2002, they have also been operating three journeys daily each way between Frankfurt and Brussels (increased to four per day since December 2010).
![DB AG 406 001-8](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/DB_AG_406_001-8.jpg)
In Belgium, the train was licensed in 2002 to run on the classic 3 kV DC lines with speeds up to and, from December 2004, also on the new 25 kV AC high-speed lines, but initially limited to instead of .
[Harmonisierungsdefizite am Beispiel von Auslandszulassungen des Triebzuges ICE 3, in "Elektrische Bahnen", Vo. 103 (2005), pages 147-149] Problems with flying gravel and its frictionless
linear eddy current brake came up during testing. In order to limit the creation of tornado-like
vortices
In fluid dynamics, a vortex ( : vortices or vortexes) is a region in a fluid in which the flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Vortices form in stirred fluids, and may be observed in smoke rings, whirlpools in th ...
that pick up gravel and to limit damage from flying gravel to the train, spoilers have been added under the car joints, under the carbody next to the
bogies and under the powered axles on the bogies.
![Anbauteil ICE3MF](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Anbauteil_ICE3MF.jpg)
The linear eddy current brake, which is required for higher speeds, cannot yet be used, because the magnetic field would rip off the magnetic covers of some trackside equipment; those covers will have to be replaced by non-magnetic ones according to the EU
Technical Specifications for Interoperability
A technical specification for interoperability (abbreviated as TSI) is a text provided for in European Directive 2016/797 adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on the interoperability of the European rail system ...
for international rail traffic in Europe.
As in Belgium, licensing procedures for France took five years to be completed. Trial runs were completed in late 2005 and the same two problems were encountered as in Belgium: loose gravel damage and possible side-effects of the brakes. ICE 3Ms were allowed on the
LGV Est
The Ligne à Grande Vitesse Est européenne (East European High Speed Line), typically shortened to LGV Est, is a French high-speed rail line that connects Vaires-sur-Marne (near Paris) and Vendenheim (near Strasbourg). The line halved the ...
and started service there on 20 June 2007, mixed with
TGV
The TGV (french: Train à Grande Vitesse, "high-speed train"; previously french: TurboTrain à Grande Vitesse, label=none) is France's intercity high-speed rail service, operated by SNCF. SNCF worked on a high-speed rail network from 1966 to 19 ...
s. Since December 2007, DB operates ICE 3M trains from
Frankfurt central station
Frankfurt (Main) Hauptbahnhof, also called Frankfurt Central Station and Frankfurt Main Station, is the busiest railway station in the German state of Hesse. Because of its location near the middle of Germany and usage as a transport hub for lo ...
to
Paris Est
The Gare de l'Est (; English: "Station of the East" or "East station"), officially Paris-Est, is one of the six large mainline List of Paris railway stations, railway station termini in Paris, France. It is located in the 10th arrondissement of ...
, initially with five daily runs between both cities. The six trains for running into France (designated ICE-3 MF, indicating ''multisystem France'') were modified at
Bombardier's Hennigsdorf plant and were extensively tested on Siemens'
test site in Wegberg-Wildenrath before the modified trains re-entered commercial service.
Despite this, the "French" subset of six class 406 trains have suffered from reliability problems, so that some Paris–Frankfurt services are operated instead by French TGVs (currently
TGV 2N2 'Euroduplex' as of 2015) under the "Alleo" joint venture between DB and SNCF.
In Switzerland, licensing took only six months.
Class 407
![SiemensVelaroD-InnoTrans2010](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/SiemensVelaroD-InnoTrans2010.jpg)
Deutsche Bahn placed an order for fifteen trains valued €500 million in November 2008. On 18 April 2010, Deutsche Bahn presented the first
Velaro D at Siemens'
Krefeld
Krefeld ( , ; li, Krieëvel ), also spelled Crefeld until 1925 (though the spelling was still being used in British papers throughout the Second World War), is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, i ...
plant.
It is designed for operation at up to , is wider, quieter and more energy-saving, should be less susceptible to malfunctions than its predecessor, and incorporates additional
crashworthiness
Crashworthiness is the ability of a structure to protect its occupants during an impact. This is commonly tested when investigating the safety of aircraft and vehicles. Depending on the nature of the impact and the vehicle involved, different crit ...
and fire safety measures.
The new train was supposed to be used mainly for international services from Germany to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The new type's safety measures are in line with the new specifications for operating passenger trains inside the
Channel Tunnel, allowing the Class 407 to be used on the services that DB planned to operate from London to Amsterdam and Frankfurt in 2015. The planned service to London was never introduced.
The new train was designated Class 407 and was originally scheduled to enter service at the end of 2011. This date has since been postponed several times. In December 2013 the first four trains delivered to DB were licensed for domestic operation as
multiple units and started with passenger traffic. Four more trains were expected for delivery in spring 2014, whereas the remainder of eight trains shall be used by Siemens for test runs in France and Belgium to gain type approval there.
In June 2011, Deutsche Bahn ordered one additional Velaro D set in order to replace an ICE3MF set damaged in an accident in August 2010.
Class 408
In 2019 Deutsche Bahn needed more trains to run on national and international high-speed tracks. Siemens offered them an evolution of the Velaro D equipped with
multi-system capability and hence labelled Velaro MS. In 2020 Deutsche Bahn ordered 30 trainsets for delivery starting in 2022. The trains are designed for operation at 320 km/h and will be deployed from the end of 2022 on routes that use the Cologne – Frankfurt high speed line which is designed for operation at 300 km/h. The first of the trains, called ''ICE 3 neo'' by Deutsche Bahn and classed as 408, was completed in late 2021 with test runs started immediately. In February of 2022, the order volume increased to 73 trains and the first train was shown to journalists. All 73 trains are supposed to be in service by early 2029.
Special services
For the
EXPO 2000
Expo 2000 was a World Expo held in Hanover, Germany from 1 June to 31 October 2000. It was located on the Hanover Fairground (Messegelände Hannover), which is the largest exhibition ground in the world. Initially some 40 million people were expe ...
in
Hanover
Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...
, Deutsche Bahn provided 120 additional train services. Some of these special services were operated by ICE trains and labelled "ExpoExpress" (EXE). These services also constituted the first widespread use of the then-new ICE 3 train sets, presenting them to the domestic and international general public.
See also
*
List of high-speed trains
The following is a list of high-speed trains that have been, are, or will be in commercial service.
A high-speed train
High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail system that runs significantly faster than traditional rail, using an integrate ...
References
External links
ICE 3 for Germany and the NetherlandsSiemens Page
Spec Sheet; French
{{Train types in the Netherlands
Railway coaches of Germany
Electric multiple units of Germany
Deutsche Bahn locomotives
Intercity Express
Passenger trains running at least at 300 km/h in commercial operations
Electric multiple units of the Netherlands
Siemens Velaro
15 kV AC multiple units
3000 V DC multiple units
25 kV AC multiple units
Siemens multiple units
1500 V DC multiple units of France