InterCityExpress
InterCityExpress, usually abbreviated as ICE, designates the high-speed train system of the German railways that circulate in Germany and neighboring countries.
The InterCityExpress is the fastest and most comfortable train of the Deutsche Bahn AG and is considered the company's "flagship" and successor to the InterCity (IC). The IC served approximately 180 stations that are currently largely used by the ICE in Germany and six neighboring countries (Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark). The brand name "ICE" is one of the best-known brands in Germany, with brand awareness close to 100%, according to the DB.
The name "ICE" is also used for the vehicles used in the system, which were developed specifically for the system beginning in the early 1980s.
There are currently 259 trains in five different versions of the ICE vehicles in circulation, called the ICE 1 (launched in 1991), ICE 2 (1996), ICE-T (1999), the ICE 3 (1999) and the ICE-TD (2001-2003, back in service since 2007). The ICE 3, including its variant models, is manufactured by both Bombardier and Siemens.
History
These trains were developed from the year 1985 by Siemens AG according to the indications of the German Federal Railways (Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB). The first generation, known as "ICE 1", reaches a top speed of 280 km/h. The trains are made up of two power units, one at each end, and between 10 and 14 trailers. The capacity of the convoys with 12 trailers is 645 passengers. German railways currently use 59 trains of this type.
A variant of the first train was later developed, called the "ICE 2". The difference with the first type is that the convoys can be divided into two equal halves, for those routes in which it is interesting to have trains with less capacity from a certain city that go to two different destinations. This is achieved by equipping complete convoys, which have a motor unit at each end, just like the ICE 1, with two trailers with a driving position located in the middle of the train. In this way, by dividing the train in two, each of the two halves has a power unit and a trailer with a driving position at the opposite end, which allows it to circulate in both directions. These trains were put into service in 1997. The German railways have 44 units.
Since 2000, the "ICE 3" has been running, the most modern and fastest version of these trains, which reaches a speed of 330 km/h. This train is capable of climbing slopes of four per thousand without loss of speed. Contrary to previous models, the ICE 3 does not have drive units, instead the traction equipment is distributed throughout the convoy, feeding the motors on each of the axles, so each car contributes to the train's acceleration. This configuration also allows the passenger compartments to reach the place where the driver is located, offering a view towards the track through the glass that separates the passengers from the driving position. The German railways currently use 37 trains of this type, and another 13 are in production, which are manufactured by the consortium Siemens AG and Bombardier Transportation.
The design was done by German industrial designer Alexander Neumeister.
Evolution of ICE
InterCityExperimental (ICE V) (1985)
ICE 1 (1990)
ICE 2 (1996)
ICE T (1999)
ICE 3 (2000)
ICE TD (2001)
ICE 3 Velaro D (2013)
ICE 4 (2017)
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Mishaps
The accident in Eschede (Germany)
On June 3, 1998, an Intercity Express (ICE) train derailed at 200 km per hour, leaving a total of 101 dead and another hundred injured. The accident occurred in the town of Eschede, located in the federal state of Lower Saxony, when the ICE train running between Munich and Hamburg-Altona derailed and collided with a bridge pillar. The subsequent investigation determined that the failure occurred in one of the wheels of a trailer, which collapsed due to material fatigue.
Elastic wheels made up of three parts were used: an outer steel ring (tread), separated by a layer of rubber from the body of the wheel. This construction serves to avoid vibrations. Over time cracks occur in the metal, which are difficult to detect. Despite being aware of the problems associated with this wheel construction, the Deutsche Bahn did not have a reliable crack detection system in place.
Three minutes before the accident, the wheel lost its outer ring that embedded itself in the floor of the trailer, going through it – which was noticed by a passenger. About 5 km later, this event caused the wheel to engage a turnout check rail and tear it along its entire length, traversing the entire trailer and inserting itself into the immediately following trailer. Simultaneously, the broken wheel changed the position of the turnoff, which was located a few meters before a concrete bridge. The first three trailers and the tractor head overran the bridge, but the fourth trailer took the turnoff that had changed the broken wheel of the second trailer and deviated from the original rail causing the derailment of this and the following trailers. The trailer collided with the bridge pillar at such a speed that it caused its demolition. The following trailers were colliding in a zig zag against the first one.
After the accident, the elastic wheels with tread were replaced by normal monobloc wheels on the ICE trains. To compensate for the vibrations of this type of wheels, pneumatic suspension was incorporated into all the bogies.
Lines in service
- High speed line Colonia-Aquisgrán (enhanced line, 250 km/h)
Map of the network showing the maximum capabilities and speeds of the system.
- Hannover-Berlin High Speed Line (partly new line, 250 km/h in the new section, 160 and 200 km/h in existing sections)
- High speed line Nuremberg-Ingolstadt-Múnich (partly new line, 300 km/h in new part, 160 and 200 km/h in existing section)
- High speed line Nuremberg-Érfurt (partly new line, 300 km / h)
- High speed line Cologne-Fráncfort (new line, 300 km/h)
- Hanover-Wurzburg High Speed Line (new line, 280 km / h)
- Mannheim-Stuttgart High Speed Line (new line, 280 km/h)
- High-speed line Erfurt-Leipzig/Halle (new line, 300 km/h)