ICE 2
The sixty ICE 1 trainsets were sufficient for operating three ICE lines. As more lines are added (with the opening of new high speed lines), new trains have to be purchased.
The ICE 1 was a great success, but there have been some problems too. The weight per seat is rather high, and for some connections the train is too long. Therefore the new ICE 2 trains, which are currently (1997) put into service, are shorter and lighter. The ICE 2 only consists of one power unit and seven cars (instead of two power units and up to fourteen cars), so it is half as long as an ICE 1. If high capacity is needed, two of them can be coupled together with a new automatic Scharfenberg coupler. They can be separated quickly at a station and leave into different directions. So, more flexible timetables become possible. The DBAG has ordered 44 trains ICE 2 plus 2 reserve locomotives, 1 reserve cab car and 26 additional coaches for the ICE 1. |
The reserve locomotives are used for the ICE-S. The ordered 13 trains for international connections were cancelled, these will be versions of the ICE 3 and not the ICE 2.
One problem of the ICE 2 is that the Eisenbahnbundesamt has not yet allowed pushed trains to go faster than 200 km/h, because crosswinds might cause derailment of the cab car. The exception is the new line Berlin - Oebisfelde, where measurements have shown that the wind is not critical.
The usual configuration will be powercar-train + train-powercar on the high speed lines, split up into half-trains which operate either with the powercar or the cabcar in front on old lines. The top speed of the ICE 2 will depend on the configuration, direction of travel and the lines used.
Find out more at http://www.railfaneurope.net/ice/ice2.html
One problem of the ICE 2 is that the Eisenbahnbundesamt has not yet allowed pushed trains to go faster than 200 km/h, because crosswinds might cause derailment of the cab car. The exception is the new line Berlin - Oebisfelde, where measurements have shown that the wind is not critical.
The usual configuration will be powercar-train + train-powercar on the high speed lines, split up into half-trains which operate either with the powercar or the cabcar in front on old lines. The top speed of the ICE 2 will depend on the configuration, direction of travel and the lines used.
Find out more at http://www.railfaneurope.net/ice/ice2.html