Germany's ICE Trains

Trainsets:

To most passengers, all Intercity-Express trains look pretty much the same: They're long, streamlined trainsets with pale grey (almost white) paint and red stripes along the side, and all offer high standards of comfort.

Still, there are differences that are worth noting:

ICE 1 trains were introduced in the early 1990s. The trainsets have power cars, or locomotives, at each end and passenger cars (including a tall BordRestaurant dining car) in between.

ICE 2 trains are a bit more streamlined than their ICE 1 counterparts, with a BordBistro café/restaurant that looks almost identical to the standard passenger cars.

ICE 3 trains have bullet noses and no separate power cars: motors and other electrical components are beneath the floors of the passenger cars, making it possible to offer a "lounge seat" compartment directly behind the engineer's cockpit at each end of the train. Passengers can watch the driver and the tracks ahead through a floor-to-ceiling glass partition.

Lounge seats are also available on ICE T trains, which are similar to ICE 3 trains but include a tilting mechanism to allow faster speeds on curved track.

ICE train services:

Intercity-Express trains also can be defined by their type of service:

• ICE or standard Intercity-Express trains offer first- and second-class seating. Reservations are optional on most routes, though they're recommended at busy times.

• ICE Sprinter trains are special morning and evening limited-stop expresses on crowded corridors such as Frankfurt-Berlin, Duisberg-Hamburg, and Dortmund-Cologne-Stuttgart-Munich. You'll need reserved seats on these trains, and while the reservation fees are higher than on standard ICE trains, you'll get a newspaper in second class or a newspaper, drink, and meal at your seat in first class.

Class of travel and seating:

ICE trains have first- and second-class cars. All cars are air-conditioned, and the main difference between the two classes is in the seating:

• First-class carriages usually have 2 + 1 seats across the width of the car.

• Second-class cars usually have 2 + 2 seats.

You can see pictures of first- and second-class cars under "More ICE train photos" below.

In addition to the more common open seating, some cars have modern versions of the traditional six- or eight-seat European train compartments, and some trains have business cars with laptop tables and glassed-in conference rooms.

Newer ICE 3 and ICE T trains also have compartments with "lounge seats" directly behind the engineer's cockpits at both ends of the train (see photo at top of page).

These compartments are popular with railfans, and they're available in both first and second class.

Other seating variations include facing pairs of seats with tables and family compartments on newer trains. If you have a preference for a certain type of seat, indicate your preference when making seat reservations.

Boarding tips:

At the train station, look for an electronic signboard or a yellow printed "Abfahrten" ("Departures") list. This will show the platform for your train.

On the platform, look for a diagram that shows the makeup of each train. Identify the platform sector (A, B, C, D) for your class of travel and/or the car where you have a seat reservation and wait for the train between the sector signs.

When the train arrives, look for the car numbers near the doors. If you don't have time to reach the other end of the train, board anywhere and walk to your car. (ICE trains have automatic electric doors between cars, so walking through the train is easy unless you're hauling bulky luggage.)

Luggage:

You'll need to take your bags into the car with you, but this shouldn't be a problem if you're traveling with a reasonable amount of luggage.

Place smaller bags on the overhead rack above your seat; larger bags can be placed between the backs of opposite-facing seats or stowed in a luggage locker at the end of the car.

(Deposit a coin, which will be refunded when you collect your suitcase.)

In first class, passengers often simply place suitcases next to them in the aisle; this isn't always convenient in second class, where aisles are narrower and cars are more crowded.

Porters are available in larger German railroad stations, but they can be hard to find.

If you need a porter to meet you upon arrival, ask a member of the train crew to phone ahead. Many conductors and car attendants speak English, but if all else fails, show your ticket, ask "Gepäckträger?", and make lifting gestures.

• Note: Bicycles aren't permitted on ICE trains, unless they're folded or disassembled and stored in a bike bag.

Food and drink

Your ICE train will have a BordRestaurant (dining car), a BordBistro (café car), or both. On most trains, you can order a meal at your seat in first class or buy snacks in second class.

An even better option, if you're watching your euros, is to buy a sandwich and drink in the railroad station before departure. Larger stations often have food stands or kiosks on the train platforms.

Accessibility

All ICE trains have accessible lavatories, wheelchair parking, and other facilities for disabled travelers. These are located only in certain cars, so it's a good idea to reserve a seat and indicate your need before you travel.

What to expect on board

ICE trains offer a fast, smooth ride, without the lurches and clatter of traditional trains. You may be surprised to look up and see "300 km/h" displayed on a digital panel at the end of your car.

On some trains (ICE Sprinters) you'll be offered free newspapers, and free copies of the Deutsche Bahn's excellent German-language magazine are available in all trains.

Also glance through the leaflet titled Ihr Reiseplan, which shows your train's schedule with connecting services at each station along the way.

Finally, the first-class cars on some trains offer video entertainment, and nearly all have headphone jacks for free onboard audio programming.

Telephones and laptops

Some ICE cars have cellular repeaters for the convenience of mobile-phone users, but other carriages are "quiet cars" where telephones are forbidden. If you intend to use your phone enroute (or if you like to play your iPod at top volume), don't sit in the silent zone.

In recent years, the Deutsche Bahn has installed power plugs in newer trains and many older cars. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available on all ICE trains.

Tickets

You can buy ICE and other Deutsche Bahn tickets at railroad stations, at travel agencies, from online vendors like Rail Europe  in the U.S., or directly from the Deutsche Bahn Web site.

First class will cost you about 50 per cent more than second class, but the car will have fewer passengers and your seat will be a little more comfortable. (For most travelers, second class on an ICE train is more than adequate, and it's more comfortable than economy class on an airplane.)

Seat reservations

Seat reservations aren't required on most ICE trains, but they're a good idea if you're traveling at a busy period or want a block of seats for your family or group.

You can reserve seats at German railroad stations or on the Deutsche Bahn Web site.

When you board a train with a seat reservation, go to the indicated car and seat number.

You'll see a small sign (usually electronic, sometimes paper) above the seat that identifies your boarding and arrival station, such as "Nürnberg-München" or "Wolfsburg-Hannover."

When you board a train without a seat reservation, look for an unreserved seat or a seat with an expired reservation indicator (in other words, if the reservation is to Frankfurt Hbf and you get on after Frankfurt Hbf, you can claim the seat).

• Tip: Reserved seats must be claimed within 15 minutes after boarding, so don't get on the train and head immediately to the BordRestaurant or BordBuffet. Instead, go to your seat, wait for the conductor to check your ticket, and leave a personal item (preferably nothing valuable) on or by your seat before leaving the car.

Rail passes

You can travel free on ICE trains if you have a qualifying rail pass. Eurail (for travelers who live outside Europe) and InterRail (for residents of Europe) offer a variety of multi-country and single-country passes. Deutsche Bahn also sells passes and special tickets for tourists.

Please note:

• If you're traveling with a rail pass, be sure to read the pass instructions before boarding the train. (Typically, you'll need to write in the date of travel and have your passport handy if the conductor wants to check your identity.)

• Reservations aren't covered by your rail pass, so if you reserve a seat, you'll have to pay the small fee.

Passenger resources:

Deutsche Bahn - German Federal Railways
The DB's international pages provide an interactive timetable  and other resources for English-speaking travelers.

Railfan sites:

Wikipedia: Intercity-Express
This article is packed with information on the history of ICE trains, the route network, equipment, maintenance, international services, and more.

The ICE/ICT Pages
Tobias Benjamin Köhler's site hasn't been updated in a while, but it's worth visiting if you're a trainspotter looking for profile drawings of trainsets. (Note: "ICT" is another acronym for ICE T.)

The Railfaneurope.net Picture Gallery: ICE
Drill down through the many ICE subdirectories for trainspotter photos of Intercity-Express trains in Germany and neighboring countries.

General travel information for Germany

Germany Tourism
The German National Tourist Board has general information and localized sites for visitors from many different countries.

Historic Highlights of Germany
This informative site covers 17 small- to medium-sized Germany cities of unusual charm and architectural interest.

A multi-unit ICE 3 train crosses the Lahntal Bridge north of Frankfurt am Main.

An ICE 3 train delivers passengers to the terminals at Frankfurt International Airport.

A family boards an ICE train with help from a conductor.

In first class, open coaches have 1 + 2 seating.

Second-class seating is 2 + 2. Note the coat closet on the left side of the aisle.

Some ICE trains have BordRestaurants, while others offer more casual BordBistros. You can also drink, snack, or (in first class) have a meal served at your seat.