Deutsche Bahn (DB) has introduced the ICE 4 into regular service, thus reaching a further project milestone right on schedule. Initially, five trains will operate on the routes between Hamburg and Munich and Hamburg and Stuttgart. The ICE 4 fleet will grow to nine trains by the summer of 2018.
DB plans to reach its ambitious growth goals with the ICE 4 fleet. The operator’s mainline strategy, approved in 2015, is to expand its long-distance offerings by 25 percent by 2030. DB wants to attract an additional 50 million passengers a year, and the ICE 4 will provide the backbone for its long-distance service.
All in all, Siemens will deliver a total of 119 trains by 2023. Of these, 100 will be in a twelve-car configuration and 19 in a seven-car configuration.
“The ICE 4 is the new flagship for our long-distance routes and sets standards for our passengers: Plenty of storage space for luggage, an elegant restaurant and an innovative lighting concept ensure a high level of comfort for passengers. This is the first ICE on which passengers can take their bicycles. Thanks to a completely revamped family area and parent-and-child compartment, we’re making journeys even more relaxing for families,” says Birgit Bohle, Chairwoman of the Management Board of DB Fernverkehr AG.
The ICE 4 trainset was designed to provide the greatest possible flexibility. A total of 24 train configurations are possible on the basis of five car types and the trains can be adapted to capacity requirements, top speed and the selected route profile. The 346-meter long, 12-car train offers 830 seats. An innovative lighting scheme is attuned to the time of day and creates a pleasant atmosphere inside the cars. A new type of air conditioning system ensures that outside temperatures ranging from a minus 25 degrees Celsius to a plus 45 degrees Celsius can be comfortably handled. The new trains have multi-provider technology using the latest WiFi technology. The system connects with the fastest data network available (LTE, 3G) while the train is underway and bundles the capacities of the network operator so that higher data volumes can be processed. This provides passengers with a faster and more stable WLAN connection. The ICE 4 fleet is equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS).
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