It is a feast for the eyes, like its predecessors. In early December, Deutsche Bahn (DB) introduced a new (and its name) high-speed train Intercity Express 3 Neo, which made its first route from Frankfurt to Cologne. The trains impress with their ultra-modern design and spaciousness, according to a Deutsche Welle publication. They seem to offer more amenities than the French TGV equivalent. They are largely similar to the previous Intercity Express 3, which has been around since 1997 and is based on the successful Velaro platform from Siemens. However, many details have been improved such as lighting, internet access and the ability to accommodate people with special needs. From 2024, the new ICE will also be used on international routes, initially to Brussels and Amsterdam.

Technical characteristics of ICE Neo 3 allow it to reach speeds of up to 400 kilometers per hour. However, within Germany it is not expected to travel faster than 320 km/h. “The existing network does not allow for higher speeds,” Siemens CEO Michael Graetz told Handelsblatt business newspaper. “In addition, there are some limitations to managing the economy, such as material wear and energy consumption increase as speed increases. And one more thing: at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour it is very difficult to drink coffee on a train … “. German railways ordered 73 new ICE Neo 3 rolling stock from Siemens with a total capacity of 30,000 seats. The cost reaches 2.3 billion euros. Four trains have already delivered, with the rest expected by 2029. “ICE is one of our highest quality products,” Albrecht Neumann, CEO of Siemens Mobility, told Handelsblatt. to replace older trains, all in the context of the German government’s new strategy for “sustainable mobility” aimed at doubling the number of passengers on the railways by 2030.