The European Railway Picture Gallery

Picture of the Month - December 1999

Photo by Peter Schokkenbroek <petersch@theoffice.net>

The third generation of German high-speed trains is quite different from the first two. The ICE-3 is a trainset with motors distributed over the coaches, the ICE-1 and -2 are coaches hauled by motor cars without passenger seating.

The ICE-3 is especially intended for the high-speed line Cologne - Frankfurt that is currently being built. Both single voltage (class 403, 37x) and quadruple voltage (class 406, 13x) 8-car trainsets have been ordered by the Deutsche Bahn. The Dutch Railways (NS) have ordered 4 quadruple voltage trainsets for Amsterdam - Cologne - Frankfurt. In 2000 these sets will be used on Amsterdam - Hannover (Expo2000) and from 2001 on Amsterdam - Cologne. When the new high-speed line is finished they will continue from Cologne to Frankfurt.

The picture shows the first quadruple voltage set 406 001 on test runs in The Netherlands. It was photographed on 20 October close to Almelo.

Photo and scan by Peter Schokkenbroek <petersch@theoffice.net>