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Welcome to Velaro and ICE Super High Speed Trains Page!
The Velaros are today's best seller for super high speed class. Manufactured by Siemens these trains can be found in many corners of the world. Since Velaro evolved from the Inter City Express trains, we will also take a look at these.
ICE-V / R/S-VD * ICE1 *
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Created for 4rail.net by John McKey. Pictures by Andreas Ehnberg, Hannu Peltola, Stanislav Voronin, Ilkka and Sanna Siissalo, Nick Slocombe, Gerard J. Putz and John McKey.
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Velaro-D, Deutsche Bahn class 407
The latest evolution version of the DB of Siemens' highly popular product line is the class 407 super high speed EMU. These state of the art trains are currently in testing phase and the revenue use for the customer DB will start in 2012. The first route will probabaly be from Köln, Germany to Brussels, Belgium.
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| History of High Speed Trains in Germany |
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Early History of Intercity Express Trains and ICE-V / R/S-VD
The history of the ICE-trains as we know today starts from the ICE-V (V=Versuch, trial for German) test train. The test train carried a series of test during its 11 year lifespan competing simultaneously for money with a another German project: the Maglev. ICE-V also created a brief new world speed record for the trains on normal track before the TGV's took over again.
Units built: 1, built in 1985 (for the test train configs change)
Lifespan: 1985 - 1996, now in Museum in Munich Germany
Electrical systems: 15 kV 16,7 Hz
Usage: To test the solutions for the super hs travel in Germany
 Detailed information on ICE-V type... |
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Intercity Express 1 / Class 401 of Deutsche Bahn
The first generation production ICE's are assigned number 1. These are distinctively streamlined and have a locomotive at both ends. This fleet has so far gone through one major refurbishment.
Units built: 60, built in 1989 - 1993
Unit numbers: 101 - 120, 152 - 190
Maximum allowed speed: 280 km/h (174 mph)
Electrical systems: all 15kV 16,7 Hz
Usage: All around Germany on High Speed routes
Detailed information on ICE 1 type and units... |
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Intercity Express 2 / Class 402 of DB
Very similar to the ICE1, the ICE2 train have only one locomotive, while the other end is formed by a driving trailer.
Units built: 44, built in 1995 - 1997
Unit numbers: 402 001 - 402 046
Maximum allowed speed: 280 km/h (174 mph)
Electrical systems: all 15kV 16,7 Hz
Usage: All around Germany on High Speed routes
Detailed information on ICE 2 type and units... |
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Intercity Express 3, ICE3 M, ICE3 MF, Classes 403 and 406
ICE3 is the second generation of the super high speed trains in Germany. The train design was altered so that now a uniform set of cars was used and no locomotives were used in either end. ICE3's have several build series, each one enhanced of the previous model.
Units built: 50 + 11 + 6, built in 1997 - late 2000s
Unit numbers: 403 x01 - x37, x51 - x63, 406 x01 - x13 (text on the sides 46xx), 51 - x54, x80 - x85
Maximum allowed speed: 320 - 330 km/h (199 - 205 mph)
Electrical systems: all 15kV 16,7 Hz, ICE3-M/MF (406) also 25 KV 50 Hz, 1500 V DC and 3000V DC
Usage: All around Germany on High Speed routes, the multi voltage units can also be seen in neighboring countries.
Detailed information on ICE 3 type and units...
ICE3 M and ICE3 MF class 406
The first truly international ICE3 train sets were ordered by Netherlands Railways NS as type ICE3 M and and DB as ICE3 MF. Of the latter some unit were new and some rebuilt of the class 403 for the French traffic.
Units built and rebuilt: 11 + 6, 1997 - 2008
Unit numbers: 406 x01 - x13, 406 x51 - x54, 406 x80 - x85
Maximum allowed speed: 330 km/h in Germany (205 mph)
Electrical systems: 15kV 16,7 Hz, 25 KV 50 Hz, 1500 V DC and 3000V DC
Usage: All around Germany international high speed routes, mainly to France (Paris, Marseille), Belgium (Brussels) and Holland (Amsterdam), possibly later also U.K. (to London through Channel tunnel).
Detailed information on ICE 3 class 406 type and units...
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Deutsche Bahn class 407 / Velaro D
The newest Velaro train sets will be allocated mostly on the Deutsche Bahn's international routes from Germany: France, Belgium and Holland, and later even U.K. depending on the outcome of the Channel Tunnel safety rules revisions. The new trains are thoroughly improved from the previous generations, although the outside appearance remains strikingly similar at first looks.
Units built: 15, 2010 - current production model
Unit numbers: 407 x01 -
Maximum allowed speed: 320 km/h (199 mph)
Electrical systems: all 15kV 16,7 Hz, 25 KV 50 Hz, 1500 V DC and 3000V DC
Usage: All around Germany international high speed routes, mainly to France (Paris, Marseille), Belgium (Brussels) and Holland (Amsterdam), possibly U.K. (London).
Similar units will also be manufactured for use at Eurostar as E320 train sets. Not surprisingly, these are targeted partly for the same routes the Deutsche Bahn has in mind.
Detailed information on Velaro-D Class 407 type and units...
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| Tilting High Speed ICE Trains |
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Intercity Express - T (Classes 411.1, 411.2, 415)
Very similar to the ICE1, the ICE2 train have only one locomotive, while the other end is formed by a driving trailer.
Units built: 71, built in 1996 -
Unit numbers: 411 001 - 032, 411 051 - 078, 411 080 - 084, 415 001 - 006, 415 020 - 024
Maximum allowed speed: 230 km/h (143 mph)
Electrical systems: all 15kV 16,7 Hz
Usage: All around Germany on High Speed routes, Austria, Switzerland
Detailed information on ICE-T type and units... |
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Intercity Express - TD (Class 605)
The ICE-TD shares the outside design of the ICE-T, but is powered by diesel engine instead of overhead electricity. After solving a numerous issues, these units are finally in traffic mainly between Germany and Denmark.
Units built: 20, 19 in use, built in 1998 - 2001
Unit numbers: 605 001 - 020
Maximum allowed speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
Diesel electric by Siemens and Bombardier
Usage: mainly between Germany and Denmark
Detailed information on ICE-TD type and units... |
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| Velaro Units for International Traffic |
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Velaro-E of Renfe of Spain
The Velaro-E (Velaro-Espana) / AVE S-103 was one of the earliest export orders for Siemens AG. The initial order in 2001 was 16 units, but this was later increased to 26. The Velaro-E is a very common sight on the Spanish high speed network, probably on the French side as well in a few years, since Renfe is planning on providing so runs to Paris from Spain.
Units built: 26 units of 8 modules, built in 2002 - 2008
Unit classes: AVE S-103
Maximum allowed speed: 350 km/h (218 mph)
Electrical systems: 25 KV 50 Hz overhead wire
Usage: mainly Madrid to Barcelona
Detailed information on Velaro-E type and units... |
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Velaro-RUS of RzD of Russia
The Velaro-Rus / Sapsan provided the first greater than 200 km/h platform for the Russian travellers. The Sapsans currently travel between Moscow and St Petersburg at the top speed of 250 km/h whith another destination being Nizhi Novgorod east of Moscow. The units are built to withstand extreme weather conditions and are for example equipped with double layer carbody with heated air circulating between the two layers.
Units built: 8, built in 2008 - 2009, 8 more in order
Unit numbers of the two Russian classes:
Maximum allowed speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), upgradeable to 300 km/h.
Electrical systems: 4 units 3000V DC overhead wire, 4 bielectric units also 25 kV 50 Hz
Usage: Russian higher than normal speed lines (St Petersburg - Moscow - Nizhi Novgorod)
Detailed information on Velaro-RUS types and units... |
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| Building Velaro Units at Siemens |
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- - - Discuss Page at trainorders.com - - - |
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| ICE-1 (Intercity Express 1), Deutsche Bahn class 401 |
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The development of the ICE-V train led to the manufacturing of the German class 401 ICE-1 locomotives led trains. These featured highest speed at 280 km/h (174 mph), at the brink of the super high speed class and matching the first generation French TGV's speed. Just like in France the locomotives is on both ends of the train, but unlike the French trains, here the units can not be run in multiple. Also unlike the French articulated (for safety reasons) the structure was designed so that trailers could easily be added or removed from the consist, so every car has its own bogies.
The ICE1 trains have been very successful in their traffic, although the non articulated structure has also meant added danger to the passengers when accidents happed for example due to the failure of an axle. The axles of all rail vehicles in Germany currently are inspected on regular bases and defective axles changed before any real danger occurs.
The ICE1 train sets class 801 - 804 14 trailers have so far gone through one major refurbishing phase. The trains are to be phased out, when the last of the ICx trains will be taken into use.
Technical details
-> Builders: several German companies
-- ABB
-- AEG
-- Henschel
-- Krauss-Maffei
-- Krupp
-- Siemens
-> Units built: 60
-> Units in use: 59, one unit lost in accident
-> Maximum design speed: 280 km/h (174 mph)
-> Power: 9600 kW (2 x 4800 kW) (13 052 Hp)
-> Electricity: 15 kV 16,7 Hz
-> Unit numbers: 101 - 120, 152 - 190
-> Loco unit numbers: 401 001 - 019, 051 - 090, 501 - 520, 552 - 590
-> Electrical systems: Asynchronous
-> Unit length: 410,7 m (with 14 cars)
-> Height: 3,84 m, restaurant car 4,3 m
-> Width 3,02 m
-> Wind factor: 0,17 at front, very low!
-> Trailers: 14,
- class 801: 1st class, 53 seats, 2 + 1 seating, toilet
- class 801.8: 1st class, 41 seats, telephone booth, toilet
- class 802: 2nd class, 71 seats, 2 toilets
- class 802.9: 2nd class (car 7), ?? seats
- class 803: service car, 35 second class seats, 2 wheelchair places,
access free bathroom, baby chancing room, meeting room
- class 804: restaurant car, places for 40 seated customers and
10 standing customers, the roof is higher on this car and has
extra windows at the roof
-> Couplers: Scharfenberg, including the connection within the train
Easy recognition guide:
- The ICE1 and ICE2 trains look remarkably similar, but where the ICE1 has loco on both ends the ICE2 has one loco and one driving trailer.
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- - - Click any picture to see a larger version on it! - - - |
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| ICE-2 (Intercity Express 2), Deutsche Bahn class 402 |
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The second generation of the current super high speed trains in Germany the ICE2 shares much of the design of the ICE1 train sets, the most obvious difference being that the locomotive at the other end is replaced with a driving trailer. The distributed power was not yet introduced.
The coaches of the ICE2 trains are currently going trough a first refurbishing.
Technical details
-> Builders: several German companies
- Siemens
- ABB Daimler Benz Transportation
- AEG
- DWA, Deutsche Wagonbau
- Krauss-Maffei
-> Owner and operator: Deutsche Bahn
-> Units built: 46 locomotives, 44 "half" train sets with driving trailers
1996 - 1997
-> Units in use: 44
-> Maximum design speed: 280 km/h (174 mph)
-> Power: 4800 kW (1 x 4800 kW) (6526 Hp)
-> Power to track: 200 kN
-> Electricity: 15 kV 16,7 Hz
-> Unit numbers: 201 - 244
-> Loco unit numbers: 402 001 - 046, 2 for spare
-> Electrical systems: Asynchronous
-> Unit length: 205,4 m (with 12 cars)
-> Height: 3,84 m, restaurant car 4,3 m
-> Width 3,07 m
-> Wind factor: 0,17 at front, very low!
-> Trailers: 12,
- class 805.0: 1st class, 53 seats, 2 + 1 seating, toilet
- class 805.3: 1st class, 52 seats, smoking allowed in 21
- class 806.0: 2nd class, 63 seats, 2 toilets
- class 806.3: 2nd class, 74 smokers seats
- class 807.0: service car, places for 40 seated customers in
restaurant, 15 standing places in Bistro
- class 808.0: driving trailer, 2nd class, 52 seats
-> Couplers: Scharfenberg, including the connection within the train
Easy recognition guide
- The ICE1 and ICE2 trains look remarkably similar, but where the ICE1 has loco on both ends the ICE2 has one loco and one driving trailer.
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- - - Click any picture to see a larger version on it! - - - |
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