Germany High-speed rail in Europe

ice network

construction on first german high-speed lines began shortly after of french lgvs. legal battles caused significant delays, intercityexpress (ice) trains deployed ten years after tgv network established. ice network more tightly integrated pre-existing lines , trains result of different settlement structure in germany, population more numerous third of france, on territory smaller third, resulting in more twice population density of france. ice trains reached destinations in austria , switzerland after entered service, taking advantage of same voltage used in these countries. starting in 2000, multisystem third-generation ice trains entered netherlands , belgium. third generation of ice reached speed of 363 km/h (226 mph) during trial runs in accordance european rules requiring maximum speed +10% in trial runs, , certified 330 km/h (210 mph) in regular service.

in south-west, new line between offenburg , basel planned allow speeds of 250 km/h (160 mph), , new line between frankfurt , mannheim speeds of 300 km/h (190 mph) in advanced planning stages. in east, 230 km (140 mi) long line between nuremberg , leipzig under construction speeds of 300 km/h (190 mph). fast lines berlin leipzig , nuremberg munich, completed in 2000s, allow journey times of 4 hours berlin in north munich in south, compared 8 hours same distance few years ago.