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ICE T
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<h2 id="development">Development</h2> <p>Following the successful inauguration of the <a href="/facts/Intercity-Express/TwUF1cHN">Intercity-Express</a> system in 1991 and the order to develop the <a href="/facts/ICE_2/hGRp68H6">ICE 2</a>, in 1994 DB started plans to upgrade long-distance services using conventional lines, with higher speeds and a comfort level close to the ICE standard, using tilting electric multiple units to replace locomotive-hauled <a href="/facts/Intercity_(Deutsche_Bahn)/SyP17lWY">InterCity</a> (IC) and <a href="/facts/InterRegio/2KS1E2Ud">InterRegio</a> (IR) trains. DB assigned the name <i>IC T</i> to the project, with "T" standing for <i>Triebzug</i> (multiple unit). </p><p>Later, Deutsche Bahn also saw the need for a similar new train for its non-electrified routes, and started the <i>ICT-VT</i> project, with "VT" standing for <i>Verbrennungstriebwagen</i> (internal combustion motor car). This development resulted in the diesel-powered <a href="/facts/ICE_TD/GvkXNpvp">ICE TD</a>. </p><p>Deutsche Bahn developed the <a href="/facts/ICE_3/X4d8yPKS">ICE 3</a>, IC T and ICT-VT projects in parallel. The trains share a general styling concept, notably a lounge section in the front separated only by a glass wall from the driver's compartment, with a view forward over the tracks. Technically, the trains share a lot of components and technical layout, as well as the concept of distributed traction: in contrast to the <a href="/facts/ICE_1/JQlH6euA">ICE 1</a> and ICE 2 designs, the new units were planned not with power cars, but with peripheral underfloor motors, to reduce axle load (important for tilting trains) and increase tractive effort. </p><p>At first plans were made for a three-car EMU, but in the end, capacity considerations led to a decision to create trains of two different lengths, five (later class 415) and seven (later class 411) cars, the combinations of which allow a sufficient variety of train lengths with a maximum of three trains coupled (possible variations are: 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15 cars total). </p> <h2 id="production">Production</h2> <p>In 1994, Deutsche Bahn placed an order for 40 trains, revised to 43 trains (32 of the 7-car, 11 of the 5-car version) in 1997. </p><p>The trains were produced by a consortium led by DWA and including <a href="/facts/Siemens_Mobility/Slu5d0k6">Siemens</a>, <a href="/facts/Duewag/LE2zFBz9">Duewag</a> and <a href="/facts/Fiat_Ferroviaria/VXC4mDl0">Fiat Ferroviaria</a>. DWA (later taken over by <a href="/facts/Bombardier_Transportation/UIjWS0Ty">Bombardier</a>) produced the end cars, Duewag (owned by Siemens, later merged into the parent company) the middle cars, Siemens supplied the electronics and other main parts, and Fiat Ferroviaria (later bought by <a href="/facts/Alstom/zBnQu3kz">Alstom</a>) supplied the bogies and the tilting technology. </p><p>The tilting technology is a hydraulic actuator system based on that of the Italian <a href="/facts/ETR_460/7InS6cnL">ETR 460</a> and <a href="/facts/ETR_470/tW3dXQ2o">ETR 470</a> second-generation Pendolino trains. In Pendolino bogies, only one axle is driven. In class 411 and class 415 motor cars, the inside axle of both bogies is motorised (configuration (1A)'(A1)'). </p><p>After the German government abandoned the project of a <a href="/facts/Transrapid/D3ywq6BY">Transrapid</a> (<a href="/facts/Maglev_(transport)/2o7UVAM5">maglev</a>) line between <a href="/facts/Hamburg/kmAAsYtT">Hamburg</a> and <a href="/facts/Berlin/pMTIRNXK">Berlin</a>, Deutsche Bahn decided to upgrade its conventional line between the two cities to 230 km/h. To serve this line and increase capacity on other lines, in 2002 DB ordered an additional 28 seven-car trains from a consortium consisting of the successors of the companies in the previous one, but this time led by Siemens.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> This brought the total number of Class 411 trains to 60.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> The main changes were aimed at reducing costs. </p> <h3>Class 411</h3> <p>The second (411.1), third (411.2), fifth (411.7) and sixth (411.6) cars are motorised, while the end cars (411.0 and 411.5) carry transformers supplying the next two cars. Thus each train consists of two power units of three coaches plus one unpowered middle car (411.8). The middle car can be removed, and theoretically the trains can be supplemented with an additional middle car. </p><p>The second batch of trains (with car numbers of 411 x51-411 x78) display a number of smaller modifications, mainly to reduce purchase and maintenance costs. The most visible differences outside were the lack of a through window band with tinted glass, and LED matrix headlights. The most apparent differences inside were the scrapping of on-board radio and the replacement of the restaurant with a standing bar. The trains also offer 8 additional seats for a total of 390. </p> <h3>Class 415</h3> <p>Each five-car train forms a single power unit, with three motorised middle cars (415.1, 415.7, 415.6) between two end cars (415.0, 415.5) carrying transformers. Six trains are intended for domestic service, the other five (car numbers 415 x80-415 x84) for international service towards Switzerland, therefore they were also equipped with the Swiss train safety system and additional narrower pantographs for the Swiss network. As of 2025, the Class 415 mainly operates on the <a href="/facts/Dresden/nKVXxIgq">Dresden</a>-<a href="/facts/Frankfurt_am_Main/Pw4Xj9A4">Frankfurt am Main</a>/<a href="/facts/Wiesbaden/g1V2bWhq">Wiesbaden</a> route.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>The first class 415 train was assembled in the summer of 1998, when testing began. Trials with the activated tilting system started in October 1998. Software errors delayed the commissioning. The first class 411 was delivered in early 1999. Shortly before entering service, the product name of the trains was changed to <i>ICE T</i>, with "T" now standing for the English word <i><a href="/facts/Tilting_train/X0fFSfVU">tilt(ing)</a></i>. At the same time, the <i>ICT VT</i> became the <a href="/facts/ICE_TD/GvkXNpvp">ICE TD</a>. </p><p>In 2025, Deutsche Bahn announced to gradually retire the Class 415 from June 2025.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h3>ÖBB Class 4011</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/%25C3%2596BB_Class_4011/K0shbRon">ÖBB Class 4011</a></p> <p>Three class 411 units from the first batch have been sold to Austria's <a href="/facts/%25C3%2596BB/hkFKyUNN">ÖBB</a> as <a href="/facts/%25C3%2596BB_Class_4011/K0shbRon">class 4011</a>. They have undergone a few changes. Said changes include re-licensing the Class 411 units to A-ÖBB and changing the branding to the ÖBB logo </p> <h2 id="service-history">Service history</h2> <p>Class 415 entered service on 31 May 1999 between <a href="/facts/Stuttgart/H4DCyM2U">Stuttgart</a> and <a href="/facts/Z%25C3%25BCrich/dXpgq7df">Zürich</a>. Class 411 entered service on 19 December 1999 between Berlin and <a href="/facts/D%25C3%25BCsseldorf/twteRHCh">Düsseldorf</a> via <a href="/facts/Magdeburg/8SW8I5NB">Magdeburg</a>. Later, the Berlin–<a href="/facts/Munich/Pr6zw2ev">Munich</a> and <a href="/facts/Frankfurt/Pw4Xj9A4">Frankfurt</a>–<a href="/facts/Leipzig/KIqgMgLN">Leipzig</a>–<a href="/facts/Dresden/nKVXxIgq">Dresden</a> routes were added. </p><p>On 6 January 2004, one unit (with cars numbered 411 x06) burnt out. Only the end cars remained intact, and have been used as temporary replacements for damaged end cars of other units. </p><p>Starting in December 2004, DB took the second batch of 28 more class 411 units into service on the upgraded line between Berlin and Hamburg. This was the first time the ICE T reached its top speed of 230 km/h in regular service. DB accepted the additional trains only after they proved themselves reliable in service, with all trains delivered by the <a href="/facts/2006_FIFA_World_Cup/esV0aC00">2006 FIFA World Cup</a>. The trains were delivered with a standing bar in place of a restaurant; however, from 2007, all have been rebuilt with a restaurant. </p><p>When the capacity of the Switzerland-enabled five-car trains became too low for the Stuttgart–Zürich services, in 2006 the class 415 end cars (which carry the pantographs and the train safety equipment) were switched with that of class 411 trains, thus forming seven-car trains suitable for services to Switzerland. From the timetable change at the end of 2007, 15 class 411 trains modified for service in Austria (three of them sold to <a href="/facts/%25C3%2596BB/hkFKyUNN">ÖBB</a>, see section ÖBB Class 4011 below) connect Frankfurt and <a href="/facts/Vienna/NSpIURsA">Vienna</a> every two hours. Some of these trains come from Dortmund and go via Frankfurt to Vienna. </p><p>On 24 October 2008, DB temporarily removed all ICE T trains from service after a crack was found in an axle of one of the company's fleet of trains. All the trains were to be inspected for similar cracks and repaired as necessary before DB returned them to service. DB decided to sideline the trains after consultation with Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom revealed only "unclear information" about the expected life span of the axles.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p><p>At the start of November 2008, a quarter of the trains were back in service. The ultrasonic tests progressed at a speed of two trains a week, with tests on all trains expected to be finished by February 2009. Until the reason for the axle breaks is identified, the checked trains are operated with deactivated tilting system.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p><p>In January 2009, Deutsche Bahn CEO <a href="/facts/Hartmut_Mehdorn/EUmhXRh6">Hartmut Mehdorn</a> suggested that the axles would have to be replaced with a new design. Development, production and installation of the new axles would take up to two years.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>In April 2025, Deutsche Bahn announced the gradual retirement of the 5-car Class 415 from June 2025.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_high_speed_trains/zWJJPCMz">List of high speed trains</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Intercity-Express/TwUF1cHN">Description of the Intercity-Express system in Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Tilting_train/X0fFSfVU">Abstract on tilting trains in Germany</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/ICE_TD/GvkXNpvp">ICE TD: the diesel sister class</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/ICE_3/X4d8yPKS">ICE 3: the non-tilting very high-speed sister class</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <p> Media related to ICE T at Wikimedia Commons </p> <ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080512020808/http://references.transportation.siemens.com/refdb/showReference.do?r=369&div=7&l=en">ICE T on siemens.com</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.railfaneurope.net/ice/ict.html">ICT - tilting InterCity EMU (Class 411/415)</a> at <a href="http://www.railfaneurope.net/ice/ice.html">The ICE Pages</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom to supply 28 ICE Trains with tilting technology to Deutsche Bahn" (Press release). Siemens. 13 May 2002. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2009-01-24. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200446/http://www.mobility.siemens.com/ts/en/pub/newsline/newsline/presse_2002/2002/13_05_2002.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200446/http://www.mobility.siemens.com/ts/en/pub/newsline/newsline/presse_2002/2002/13_05_2002.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"The German ICE family". Modern Railways. London. December 2010. pp. 70–71. <a href="/wiki/Modern_Railways" target="_blank">/wiki/Modern_Railways</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>eisenbahn.de - "Deutsche Bahn parks Class 415" (German) 16 April 2025 <a href="https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/deutsche-bahn-stellt-baureihe-415-ab-auswirkungen-auf-verbindungen-dresden-frankfurt-main_7824" target="_blank">https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/deutsche-bahn-stellt-baureihe-415-ab-auswirkungen-auf-verbindungen-dresden-frankfurt-main_7824</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>eisenbahn.de - "Deutsche Bahn parks Class 415" (German) 16 April 2025 <a href="https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/deutsche-bahn-stellt-baureihe-415-ab-auswirkungen-auf-verbindungen-dresden-frankfurt-main_7824" target="_blank">https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/deutsche-bahn-stellt-baureihe-415-ab-auswirkungen-auf-verbindungen-dresden-frankfurt-main_7824</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"German railway takes tilting trains out of service". BusinessWeek. New York. Associated Press. 24 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110523220810/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D940V9IG0.htm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110523220810/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D940V9IG0.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"1. Blick in die ICE-Klinik". Bild am Sonntag (in German). Berlin. 2 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2009-01-24. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081219070612/http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/wirtschaft/2008/11/02/ice-klinik/ueberpruefung-der-zuege-dauert.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20081219070612/http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/wirtschaft/2008/11/02/ice-klinik/ueberpruefung-der-zuege-dauert.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Ist Ihnen egal, was die Menschen von Ihnen denken?". Bild am Sonntag (in German). Berlin. 18 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2009-01-24. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100129033612/http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/wirtschaft/2009/01/18/hartmut-mehdorn/interview-mit-deutsche-bahn-chef.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20100129033612/http://www.bild.de/BILD/news/wirtschaft/2009/01/18/hartmut-mehdorn/interview-mit-deutsche-bahn-chef.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>eisenbahn.de - "Deutsche Bahn parks Class 415" (German) 16 April 2025 <a href="https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/deutsche-bahn-stellt-baureihe-415-ab-auswirkungen-auf-verbindungen-dresden-frankfurt-main_7824" target="_blank">https://eisenbahn.de/eisenbahn-magazin/deutsche-bahn-stellt-baureihe-415-ab-auswirkungen-auf-verbindungen-dresden-frankfurt-main_7824</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>