ICE 3
Encyclopedia
ICE 3 is a family of high-speed
EMU
s of Deutsche Bahn
. It includes classes 403 and 406, which are known as ICE 3 and ICE 3M respectively. Four multisystem trains, known as ICE International, are owned by Nederlandse Spoorwegen
(Dutch Railways).
Loosely based on the ICE 3, Siemens developed its Siemens Velaro
after the completion of the ICE 3 project; these trains will enter service as class 407 in late 2011.
The ICE 3M (Class 406; M for multisystem) was developed to operate international services under the four different Railway electrification system
s in use on Europe's main lines and with support for various train security systems. The Deutsche Bahn
(DB) ordered 13 of these units in 1994, the NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen
) 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 also. As of 2007, the train is 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
some trains reach a regular top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph).
In Belgium, the train was licensed in 2002 to run on the classic 3 kV DC lines with speeds up to 160 km/h (99 mph) and, from December 2004, also on the new 25 kV AC high-speed lines, but initially limited to 250 km/h (155 mph) instead of 300 km/h (186 mph). Problems with flying gravel and its frictionless linear eddy current brake came up during testing. In order to limit the creation of tornado-like vorticles 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.
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
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
and started service there on 20 June 2007, mixed with TGV
s. Since December 2007, DB operates ICE 3M trains from Frankfurt Hbf to Paris Est
, 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 under the "Alleo" joint venture between DB and SNCF.
In Switzerland, licensing took only six months. The train lost its Swiss licence in 2006 when the ZUB and Integra safety systems were removed, which interfered with the French safety systems TVM430 and KVB. This was not a significant setback, as the Amsterdam-Basel service was the sole presence in Switzerland.
The 17 class 406 sets were built by the same consortium as the class 403. They were first introduced from 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).
plant. It is designed for operation at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), is wider, quieter and more energy-saving, should be less susceptible to malfunctions than its predecessor, and incorporates additional crashworthiness
and fire safety measures. At the end of 2011 the new train will enter service, designated Class 407 or new ICE 3: it will 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 plans to operate from London to Amsterdam and Frankfurt in 2013.
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
EMU
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
s of Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
. It includes classes 403 and 406, which are known as ICE 3 and ICE 3M respectively. Four multisystem trains, known as ICE International, are owned by Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen , or NS, is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands.Its trains operate over the tracks of the Dutch national railinfrastructure, operated by ProRail, which was split off from NS in 2003...
(Dutch Railways).
Loosely based on the ICE 3, Siemens developed its Siemens Velaro
Siemens Velaro
Siemens Velaro is a family of high-speed EMU trains used in Europe and China. The Velaro is based on Deutsche Bahn's ICE 3 high-speed trains, but is a full Siemens product unlike the ICE 3 which involved other manufacturers....
after the completion of the ICE 3 project; these trains will enter service as class 407 in late 2011.
Class 406
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
s in use on Europe's main lines and with support for various train security systems. The Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn AG is the German national railway company, a private joint stock company . Headquartered in Berlin, it came into existence in 1994 as the successor to the former state railways of Germany, the Deutsche Bundesbahn of West Germany and the Deutsche Reichsbahn of East Germany...
(DB) ordered 13 of these units in 1994, the NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen
Nederlandse Spoorwegen , or NS, is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands.Its trains operate over the tracks of the Dutch national railinfrastructure, operated by ProRail, which was split off from NS in 2003...
) 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 also. As of 2007, the train is 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
LGV Est
The LGV Est européenne is an extension to the French high-speed rail network, connecting currently Vaires-sur-Marne and Baudrecourt , and later Vaires-sur-Marne and Vendenheim . , it is the newest high-speed line in France and still under construction, with of a planned in service...
some trains reach a regular top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph).
In Belgium, the train was licensed in 2002 to run on the classic 3 kV DC lines with speeds up to 160 km/h (99 mph) and, from December 2004, also on the new 25 kV AC high-speed lines, but initially limited to 250 km/h (155 mph) instead of 300 km/h (186 mph). Problems with flying gravel and its frictionless linear eddy current brake came up during testing. In order to limit the creation of tornado-like vorticles 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.
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
Technical Specifications for Interoperability
The ERA Technical Specification for Interoperability are specifications drafted by the European Railway Agency and adopted in a Decision by the European Commission, to ensure the interoperability of the trans-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
LGV Est
The LGV Est européenne is an extension to the French high-speed rail network, connecting currently Vaires-sur-Marne and Baudrecourt , and later Vaires-sur-Marne and Vendenheim . , it is the newest high-speed line in France and still under construction, with of a planned in service...
and started service there on 20 June 2007, mixed with TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
s. Since December 2007, DB operates ICE 3M trains from Frankfurt Hbf to Paris Est
Gare de l'Est
is one of the six large SNCF termini in Paris. It is in the 10th arrondissement, not far from the Gare du Nord, facing the Boulevard de Strasbourg, part of the north-south axis of Paris created by Baron Haussmann...
, 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
Test- and Validationcenter Wegberg-Wildenrath
The Test and validation centre, Wegberg-Wildenrath is a railway test centre owned by Siemens Mobility near Wildenrath in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-History:...
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 under the "Alleo" joint venture between DB and SNCF.
In Switzerland, licensing took only six months. The train lost its Swiss licence in 2006 when the ZUB and Integra safety systems were removed, which interfered with the French safety systems TVM430 and KVB. This was not a significant setback, as the Amsterdam-Basel service was the sole presence in Switzerland.
The 17 class 406 sets were built by the same consortium as the class 403. They were first introduced from 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).
Class 407
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' KrefeldKrefeld
Krefeld , also known as Crefeld until 1929, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its centre lying just a few kilometres to the west of the River Rhine; the borough of Uerdingen is situated directly on the Rhine...
plant. It is designed for operation at up to 320 km/h (199 mph), is wider, quieter and more energy-saving, should be less susceptible to malfunctions than its predecessor, and incorporates additional crashworthiness
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 criteria are used to determine the crashworthiness of...
and fire safety measures. At the end of 2011 the new train will enter service, designated Class 407 or new ICE 3: it will 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
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
, allowing the Class 407 to be used on the services that DB plans to operate from London to Amsterdam and Frankfurt in 2013.
External links
- ICE 3 for Germany and the Netherlands Siemens Page