The InterCity Express, usually
abbreviated to 'ICE', is Deutsche Bahn's (German Railways) high-speed train,
running at up to 175 mph on special high speed lines and up to 130 mph over
upgraded conventional lines. The ICE is arguably the most comfortable,
civilised and impressive high-speed train in Europe, with a very high-spec
interior. There are several versions, namely ICE1, ICE2, the pointy-ended
ICE3 and a tilting diesel version, the ICE-TD.
On board ICE 1 & ICE 2 (routes
include
Cologne-Hanover-Berlin)
ICE1 & ICE2, 2nd
class
ICE1 & ICE2, 1st class
A Cologne-Berlin
ICE2, seen at Berlin.
Boarding an ICE
2 in Berlin Hauptbahnhof...
ICE 1
bistro-bar...
ICE 2 restaurant
car...
ICE 1 & ICE 2 trains operate on
many routes including Cologne-Hanover-Berlin.
What are ICE1 & ICE2 like inside?
Most seating is in open-plan saloons as shown in the photos above, but there
are a few 6-seater compartments in both classes which you can select when
booking if you prefer.
3D
tour of 2nd class seats
3D tour of restaurant car. You'll also find ICE trains
running from Germany into Switzerland (Basel, Zurich, Bern, Interlaken) and
Austria (Vienna).
Exterior displays next to the
carriage door show the train number, its destination, calling points and car
number. Information displays inside each carriage also show the
train's destination, carriage number, calling points, the next station stop
and (from time to time) the train's speed. On board announcements are
usually made in both German and English.
Catering: ICE1 &
ICE2 trains have a proper restaurant car with a restaurant at one end and a
bistro-bar area at the other. Breakfast in the restaurant costs
either 7.90 euros, 9.90 euros or 14.90 euros, depending on what menu you
want. A 3-course meal with a beer costs about 28 euros.
Treat yourself! In ICE 1st class, orders are taken by a member of
staff and drinks and food are served at your seat, all using proper china &
glassware.
Children: ICE1 &
ICE2 have baby-changing facilities and a small play area in a special 'parent &
child' compartment.
WiFi: A few ICE
routes have WiFi on board, but not all. There's more info on which
routes are equipped at
www.bahn.de, click 'English' at the top, then 'services'.
Power sockets for laptops &
mobiles: In ICE1 & ICE2, only the seats around tables have power
sockets in both classes.
Station first class lounges:
If you have a first class ticket, you can use the DB Lounges at the
following stations, usually open from 07:00-21:00: Berlin, Bremen,
Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt Main Airport, Hamburg,
Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart.
On board ICE 3 (routes
include
Brussels-Cologne-Frankfurt, Amsterdam-Cologne-Frankfurt, Paris-Frankfurt,
Cologne-Munich)
An ICE 3 to Frankfurt
awaits departure in the platform at Paris Gare de
l'Est...
ICE3 1st class,
with real leather reclining seats.
ICE3 2nd class.
Table for two... in the
12-seat restaurant area. There are also two tables for 4.
Meals are served on proper
crockery with metal cutlery...
The bistro car bar area.
Meals & drinks are served at your seat in 1st class...
What are ICE3s like inside?
Most seating is in open-plan saloons as shown in the photos above, but there
are a handful of 6-seater compartments in both classes which you can
select when booking if you prefer.
3D
virtual tour of 2nd class seats.
Exterior displays next to the
carriage door show the train number, its destination, calling points and car
number. Information displays inside each carriage also show the
train's destination, carriage number, calling points, the next station stop
and (from time to time) the train's speed. On board announcements are
usually made in both German and English.
Catering: ICE3
trains have a bistro car with a cafe-bar area and small 12-seat restaurant
area. Breakfast in the restaurant costs
either 7.90 euros, 9.90 euros or 14.90 euros, depending on what breakfast menu you
select. A 3-course meal with a beer costs about 28 euros.
Treat yourself! In ICE 1st class, orders are taken by a member of
staff and drinks and food are served at your seat, all using proper china &
glassware.
Children: All ICE
trains have baby-changing facilities, and you can ask for seats in special
parent-and-child compartments.
WiFi: A few ICE
routes have WiFi on board, but not all. There's more info on which
routes are equipped at
www.bahn.de, click 'English' at the top, then 'services'.
Power sockets for laptops &
mobiles: On ICE3, there are sockets between every pair of seats
in both classes.
Station first class lounges:
If you have a first class ticket, you can use the DB Lounges at the
following stations, usually open from 07:00-21:00: Berlin, Bremen,
Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt Main Airport, Hamburg,
Hanover, Cologne, Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart.
Viewing screen: ICE 3 & ICE-TD trains have a
seating area at each end of the train (one end 1st class, the other 2nd
class) with a glass screen behind the driving cab, giving you a view along
the track ahead or behind the train. See the photo below. Though you'll find Dutch and
Belgian drivers switch the glass to opaque!
On board ICE-TD (routes
include
Hamburg to Copenhagen)...
This is the diesel version of
the ICE. Its interior is similar to ICE3, though the bistro car has no
seating area. Seating plan.
Above: A
Copenhagen-Hamburg ICE-TD on board the train ferry from Rodby to
Puttgarten. You must leave the train whilst the ferry is at sea....
Above: ICE3 &
ICE-TD have seats in a viewing lounge at each end of the train, one end 1st
class, the other 2nd class.
ICE is one of the
most civilised trains in Europe...
How to check ICE train times & fares, and buy tickets online...
Simply use the German Railways website,
www.bahn.de to check times, fares, & buy tickets. It's
the best all-Europe online timetable, and will sell tickets for all domestic
German trains and most services to or from neighbouring countries. It'll
even book tickets from London to anywhere in Germany, if the journey uses an ICE
train (as opposed to the more frequent Thalys trains) between Brussels and
Cologne.
