ICE 4 (Deutsche Bahn)

ICE 4 is a brand name for long-distance Intercity-Express high-speed trains being procured by Deutsche Bahn.

Procurement started around 2008 for replacements for locomotive-hauled InterCity and EuroCity train services, and was later expanded to include replacements for ICE 1 and ICE 2 high-speed trainsets. In 2011 Siemens AG was awarded the contract for 130 seven-car intercity train replacements, and 90 ten-car ICE train replacements, plus further options – the contract for the ten-car sets was modified 2013 to expand the trainset length to twelve vehicles. The name ICx was used for the trains during the initial stages of the procurement; in late 2015 the trains were rebranded 'ICE 4', at the unveiling of the first trainset, and given the class designation 412 by Deutsche Bahn.

Two pre-production trainsets are expected to be manufactured by 2016, and used for testing prior to introduction of the main series.

History

Contract and manufacture

Around 2008 Deutsche Bahn began proceedings for tendering for trainsets for its long distance subsidiary DB Fernverkehr, to replace locomotive/coach formations on its InterCity and EuroCity train services - the initial announcement suggested that the tender would be for 100 to 130 trainsets. No specific train type was specified and DB did not intend to become involved with the design process - both locomotive hauled trains such as Railjet or variations on the ICE 3 EMU design were considered to be options. The new trains were to be branded ICX and were expected to be similar in aesthetic design to the ICE3 trains; the design speed was expected to be in the range 200 to 250 kilometres per hour (120 to 160 mph), and improve upon the energy efficiency of the units it replaced.^[4]

The scope of the procurement was later expanded to include replacements for the ICE 1 and ICE 2 trains, with a consequent top speed of up to 280 kilometres per hour (170 mph), with the size of the order increasing to up to 300 trains. Bids were received from Alstom and Siemens, with the Siemens bid including Bombardier Transportation as a subcontractor. Initial offers given in 2009 were said to be too high by DB, being over €5 billion - in 2010 DB announced that Siemens had been chosen as the preferred bidder for the procurement scheme,^[5] and on 9 May 2011 DB and Siemens signed a contract for 130 ICx trains, plus a further 90 trainsets to be formalised at a later date, with an option for a further 80 sets. The trains were to be supplied by 2030, with the value of the 220 train deal estimated at around €6 billion.^[6] Siemens' share of the contract for the intercity sets was later reported as being worth €3.7 billion to the company, reported to be the "biggest order in the company's history".^[7]

By 2011 Siemens had awarded Bombardier Transportation a contract for its contribution to the project, valued at €2.2 billion, of which €1.3 billion was for the 130 'intercity' trains. Bombardier's contract included aerodynamic optimisation of the design, and supply of the bodyshells - initially expected to come from its Gorlitz plant, with driving vehicle assembly to take place at its Hennigsdorf plant, and Flexx Eco bogies manufactured at its plant in Siegen.^[6] The variation of the initial order from 10 to 12 car ICE replacement trains (170 addition vehicles) resulted in a €336 million increase in the value of Bombardier's order.^[8]

Bodyshells are also to be supplied from Bombardier's Wroclaw plant (Poland).^[9] In 2015 Bombardier contracted Panattoni Europe to construct an additional 18,357 square metres (197,590 sq ft) manufacturing hall for the Wroclaw plant, initially to be used for the construction of the ICx trains.^[10]

Faiveley was awarded (late 2011/early 2012) contracts to supply brake equipement, including magnetic track brakes, and electropneumatic brake systems; as well as doors and air conditioning systems for the 130 unit intercity order.^[11][12]

Voith ICx front end 'mockup', InnoTrans 2014

Voith was contracted to supply parts of the nose of the trainsets, including GFRP cabin, the nose module and its opening hatches, coupling systems, and snow deflector.^[13][14]

Construction of the trainsets was expected to start in 2013, with two pre-production trains delivered by 2016.^[6]

Design

The initial contract with Siemens, signed 2011 specified a design allowing flexible train make-up (between 5 and 14 units.,^[15] with 24 different variants described; each composed of motor cars, and trailer cars. Two main variants were: a seven car, 499 seat trainset with 3 motor cars (K1n) and a top speed of 230 kilometres per hour (140 mph) - these were to replace locomotive hauled trains; the second was a ten car, 724 seat variant with 5 power cars (K3s) and a top speed of 249 kilometres per hour (155 mph), to replace ICE1 and ICE2 trains - the replacements were expected to be 20 tonnes lighter than the trains they replaced, resulting in claimed energy savings of 30%^[3][6]

Each trainset was to have a restaurant/bistro car, cycle storage, and a designated 'family area'.^[3][6]

The exterior design received a Red Dot design award in 2015.^[16]

The K3 trains are to be for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 12 of the K1 trains are to be operated into the Netherlands.^[17]

On 5 March 2013, DB announced that it had approved a 12 car 250 km/h train configuration that would raise capacity over, and replace in the base order, the existing 10 car train - seating capacity would increase from 724 seats to 830 seats. The order was altered in expectation of growing ridership for DB's long distance services.^[1]

Introduction, operations, and maintenance

ICx 9004 end car en route to Wegberg-Wildenrath test center

By 2013 DB had selected a site in Nippes, Cologne for a maintenance depot for all of its ICE fleet including future ICx trains.^[18]

In April 2015 DB Systemtechnik began climatic testing on the ICx cab and other components.^[19] Mainline test runs by DB Systemtechnik began on 25 September 2015.^[20]

One pre-series-production trainset was formally unveiled at Berlin Südkreuz on 4 Dec 2015. The trainsets were re-branded ICE 4 at the same time (see also Intercity-Express), and given the network classification Class 412.^[21]

On September 16, 2016, Siemens announced that the ICE 4 had been approved for operation by Federal Railway Authority (Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, EBA). Trial passenger operations commenced on Hamburg - Würzburg - Munich services on October 31, 2016 with full service expected from December 2017.^[22]

See also

• Intercity Express Programme, contemporary procurement programme from UK high speed and intercity trains
• Siemens Velaro, high speed train

References

Sources

• The ICx - A new era in the Deutsche Bahn’s main-line service (PDF), Siemens AG / Deutsche Bahn, 9 May 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2012 

Classes of German EMUs and battery railcars
BR number	401 402 403 403 alt 406 407 410 411 412 415 420 421 422 423 424 425 425 alt 426 426 alt 427 427 alt 428 430 440 442 450 465 485 alt 490 alt 491
Older, pre-1968 classes	ET 11 ET 25 ET 26 ET 27 ET 31 ET 41 ET 51 ET 55 ET 65 ET 82 ET 85 ET 90 ET 91 ("Gläserner Zug")
Battery railcars	515 517 ETA 150 ETA 176 ETA 178 ETA 179
S-Bahn EMUs	Berlin 475 476 477 480 481 485 ET 125 ET 165 ET 166 ET 167 ET 168 ET 169 ET 170 270 Hamburg 470 471 472 473 474 490 ET 99 ET 170 ET 171

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to DBAG ICx.

• "The ICx - the new DB platform", Siemens Mobility 
• "Siemens ICx Next Generation High-Speed Trains, Germany", www.railway-technology.com