The ICE 1 is the first series of German high-speed trains and one of five in the InterCityExpress family. Revenue service at speeds up to 250 km/h (155.3 mph) started in 1991. It was raised to 280 km/h (174.0 mph) in May 1995 and later reduced to 250 km/h (155.3 mph) again. Today, only a handful of ICE 1 services on the Nuremberg-Ingolstadt high-speed rail line reach 280 km/h (174.0 mph).
Trainsets consist of two power cars (Class 401) and up to 14 intermediate cars (Classes 801 to 804). Occasionally, power cars and intermediate cars of the ICE 2 are used as well (Classes 402, 805 to 808). Unlike later ICE generations, trainsets always operate as a whole train and units cannot be coupled in regular service.
One of the 60 trainsets (trainset 51) was destroyed in the Eschede train disaster. The others were refurbished between 2005 and 2008. Refurbished trainsets will remain in service for ten to fifteen additional years.
Read more about ICE 1: Formation, History, Technology, Design, Operation, Names
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