Driving in Europe is costly and therefore public transportation is widely used. Germany is known for its extensive railway system, the comfort of its trains, and "German punctuality". ICE (Inter City Express) trains have been in use since 1991, providing fast service between Germany's cities. The sleek trains operate with almost no engine noise and offer the comfort of pressurized carriages, so when passing through tunnels ear discomfort is eliminated. There are passenger cars along with restaurant and cafe stations on board. There are fax machines, phones, outlets for laptops and even video screens - though most of these are avalible only in first class.
(image © Christian Splittgerber)
There are 32 destinations, primarily in Germany. About 65,000 people use these trains daily in Germany, Austria, and soon the Netherlands. These trains travel at about 175mph, providing a safe and fast way to reach popular destinations. It only takes 6 hours to travel from Hamburg in the north of Germany to Munich in the south.
Traveling on the ICE
The ICE will probably be the most comfortable train you have ever travelled on. Many are fooled into thinking they are in first class seating when it is only second. Tickets can be purchased on the day of your journey or you can book ahead and reserve a seat for an extra fee. Reserving will ensure a seat on a crowded train. It is worth the few Euros. Please note: your seat reservations are only good for 15 minutes! If you're not in your seat by then, somebody else can claim it.
(image © Christian Splittgerber)
The future of the ICE train includes options for higher capacity, such as wider train seating of five or more across, or a double decker model. Tilting ICE trains are also in the works, these would provide a faster train as they can take curves quicker than the traditional trains. The tilting ICE is already in the works. In 2002 Siemens signed a contract with the Deutsche Bahn (DB) along with two other companies to build 28 seven car ICE-T trains. These should be delivered between June 2004 and February 2006 and will cost € 420 million.
(picture: © Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge)
Die Deutsche Bahn
This is the official site of Die Deutsche Bahn. The international section provides information in English including special offers, discounts, and ways to book tickets online.
ICE
This site offers ICE train info, from how they look inside to hundreds of photos of ICE trains in stations all across Germany. There is a section on each model of the ICE train, accompanied by various photos. Layouts of the design of each model are also included.
German Rail Passes
Here is a listing of German rail passes from the popular "Twin Pass" to the convenient "Drive n' Rail" pass. Pick one out that fits your trip.
Railways In Germany
This Japanese based page includes the latest news on the German rail network, a map of the rail lines, and photos.
Timetables
This is a link to a site in English on the Deutsche Bahn's site. Here you can find out when which train is leaving at what time.
