ICE S
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ICE-S on the Nuremberg–Munich high-speed line in 2005 |
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Power type | electric |
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Builder | Siemens, DWA, AEG, Adtranz |
UIC classification | original composition
current composition
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Locomotive weight | 325 t (train) |
Top speed | 400 km/h (250 mph) |
Power output | powerheads 2×4,800 kW powered carriages 2×2,00kW |
Delivered | 1996 |
ICE S is Deutsche Bahn's testing train for high-speed tests. The "S" stands for German Schnellfahrtzug, which translates to "fast runs train". It replaced the InterCityExperimental/ICE V.
The train was originally used to test components during the development of the ICE 3 in the mid-1990s. The powerheads were taken from the ongoing production of the ICE 2 with only minor modifications. Two of the three original carriages had 500 kW traction motors on each axle, resulting in an impressive overall power output of 13,600 kW. When testing was completed, both these powered carriages were retired.
After the ICE V was retired, the ICE S became the testing train for the maintenance of the high-speed lines. Three times a year, the train drives on each line with an array of sensors and cameras to determine the line's condition. During the acceptance tests of new high-speed lines, the ICE S is usually the first train to drive the line at design speed and beyond.
While testing bogies for DB and Japan Rail, the train achieved a speed of 393 km/h[1] on 13 July 2001, which is the highest speed driven on German rails since the InterCityExperimental's land speed record campaign in 1988.
[edit] References
- ^ (German) 15 Jahre Hochgeschwindigkeitsverkehr. Deutsche Bahn AG. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.