ICE 1

The ICE 1 is the first <a href="/facts/Batch-produced/cXFjDSl1">batch-produced</a> German <a href="/facts/High-speed_train/I1obpP6M">high-speed train</a> and one of six in the <a href="/facts/Intercity_Express/TwUF1cHN">Intercity Express</a> family. Revenue service at speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph) started in 1991. It was raised to 280 km/h (175 mph) in May 1995 and temporarily reduced to 250 km/h (155 mph) again, as a result of the Eschede accident.
Trainsets consist of two <a href="/facts/Power_car/NSSwWHn5">power cars</a> (Class 401) and up to 14 intermediate cars (Classes 801 to 804). Occasionally, power cars and intermediate cars of the <a href="/facts/ICE_2/hGRp68H6">ICE 2</a> are used as well (Classes 402, 805 to 808). Trainsets always operate as a whole train and cars cannot be coupled in regular service.
One of the 60 trainsets (trainset 51) was destroyed in the <a href="/facts/Eschede_train_disaster/QbXs6XaW">Eschede train disaster</a>. The others were refurbished between 2005 and 2008 and will remain in service for ten to fifteen additional years. Another refurbishment program started in 2019, expanding their life-span to approx. 2030.

ICE 1 open-in-new

ICE 1