With a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) these high-speed trains connect major German cities at hourly intervals. Some trains also go to Austria (Wien, Innsbruck), Belgium (Brussels, Liège), France (Paris, as of June 2007), the Netherlands (Arnhem, Utrecht, Amsterdam) and Switzerland (Zürich, Interlaken).
ICE trains have a restaurant car and/or a self-service bistro. Public phone booths and luggage lockers are available on board the train. Nearly the complete ICE train is a nonsmoking area. All ICE trains present state-of-the art comfort and special amenities such as in-seat video screens, an integral audio system, plugs for computer notebooks and laptops or telecommunication zones for an undisturbed reception of mobile phone signals.
The latest ICE generation ICE 3 even offers a magnificent panoramic lounge at each end of the train set for a spectacular view of the landscape.
ICE trains operate all over Germany, with many connections to neighbouring countries.
Some travel times: Frankfurt-Hamburg (536 km/332 miles): 3h25, Frankfurt-München (Munich) (417 km/259 miles): 3h10, Hamburg-München (823 km/510 miles): 5h30, Berlin- Frankfurt (611km/379 miles): 3h29 Frankfurt- Köln (176 km/109 miles): 1h15, Frankfurt-Amsterdam: 3h52, Frankfurt-Brussels (472 km/293 miles): 3h32; Berlin-Hamburg (297 km/185 miles): 1h32.
Eurail Pass holders do not have to pay a supplement. Seat reservations are not mandatory (exception: ICE SPRINTER), however strongly recommended, especially during peak periods.
Website: www.bahn.de.
