new ICE 4 of the DB most Popular
new ICE 4 of the DB most Popular
One pre-series-production trainset was formally unveiled at Berlin Südkreuz on 4 December 2015. The trainsets were re-branded ICE 4 at the same time (see also Intercity-Express), and given the network classification Class 412.
On 16 September 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 31 October 2016 with full service expected from December 2017.
new ICE 4 of the DB most Popular
On 26 September 2018, the DB board approved the purchase of 18 additional seven-car trainsets and 50 individual cars to be added to trainsets then on order.
On 4 April 2019 it was announced that due to problems with the carriage frames of the ICE 4 trains, Deutsche Bahn will not take delivery of any further trains for now. Manufacturers Siemens and Bombardier Transportation have been asked by DB to fix the issues.
On 17 July 2019 it was announced that Siemens, Bombardier, and Deutsche Bahn had come to an agreement in which Siemens and Bombardier would fix the trains, which were deemed safe, between 2020 and mid-2023. Also Deutsche Bahn would begin immediately accepting more deliveries of the trains.
In 2020, it was announced that up to 50 13-car configurations would be put into service from 2021, known publicly as "XXL-ICE" trains. These longer trains will be 374 meters long, and carry up to 918 passengers. Their top speed will also be higher than other models, at 265 km/h.
