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10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. DB ICE1 401 590 (52508715939): Nelso Silva from Porto, Portugal· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2. FIS ICE 1 alt: Sebastian Terfloth User:Sese_Ingolstadt· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 3. ICE1 Abteil alt: Sebastian Terfloth User:Sese_Ingolstadt· CC BY-SA 2.5
- 4. ICE1 Audiosystem: Sebastian Terfloth User:Sese_Ingolstadt· CC BY-SA 2.5
- 5. ICE1 Grossraum: Matthew Black· CC BY-SA 2.0
- 6. ICE1 Inneneinrichtung alt: Sebastian Terfloth User:Sese_Ingolstadt· CC BY 2.5
- 7. ICE1 Schellenberg: S. Terfloth· CC BY-SA 2.0 de
- 8. ICE 1 Hannover-Berlin Wustermark: Sebastian Terfloth User:Sese_Ingolstadt· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 9. ICE 1 Nürnberg: Sebastian Terfloth User:Sese_Ingolstadt· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 10. Luftpresser ICE1: Sebastian Terfloth User:Sese_Ingolstadt· CC BY-SA 3.0
what is it?
The ICE 1 is the first batch-produced German high-speed train and the first of now several within the Intercity Express family. Revenue service at speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph) started in 1991, it was raised to 280 km/h (175 mph) in May 1995. Trainsets consist of two power cars (Class 401) and up to 14 intermediate cars (Classes 801 to 804).
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 35 years ago, in 1991.
- Top speed is 2.2× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- At full speed it would cover Amsterdam–Utrecht (≈ 40 km) in 9 minutes.
- 9.6 MW is about 113 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Weighs about as much as 142 African elephants (~6 t each).
- 358 m long: about 80 cars parked nose to tail.
- Seats 743: 15 full city buses (~50 seats each).
high-speed train: Built for 200–350 km/h on dedicated lines, like the TGV, ICE or Shinkansen.
spec sheet
- built
- 1991
- in service from
- 1991
- number built
- 60
- kind
- Electric multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- builders
- AEG, ABB Group, Henschel & Sohn, KraussMaffei, thyssenkrupp AG, Siemens Mobility, Lokomotiv- und Waggonbaufabrik Krupp
- operators
- DB Fernverkehr, Amtrak, Deutsche Bahn
- top speed
- 280 km/h
- power
- 9.6 MW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- Overhead catenary, 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC
- formation
- 2 power cars, , 12 intermediate cars (up to 14 possible) , 9 intermediate cars (after the second refurbishment)
- length
- 358 m
- weight
- 849 t
- capacity
- 743 passengers
- Dutch name
- Baureihe 401
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q702311, Wikipedia: ICE 1 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.