Germany’s FIRST High-Speed Train, is it still good?

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  • Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
  • This is Germany's first high-speed train, dating back to the early-1990s. Does it still hold up against the modern day passenger's high expectations? Let's take a long journey on one and find out!
    DB Bordrestaurant Menu: www.bahn.de/se... (in German)
    ---
    Journey Details:
    Origin: Frankfurt(M)Hbf
    Destination: Berlin Hbf
    Company: Deutsche Bahn (DB)
    Train: DB 401 (ICE 1)
    Accommodation: First Class Seat (1st)
    Distance: 573 kilometres / 356 miles
    Price: €65.90 (£60.40 / $76.90)
    Time: 4 hours 11 minutes, arrived 2 minutes late
    ---
    Find me elsewhere:
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    / superalbstravels

КОМЕНТАРІ • 498

  • @captainquacksparrow192
    @captainquacksparrow192 Рік тому +162

    I was lucky enough to drive these trains myself for 6.5 years. Rarely has someone let me down and stayed put. Admittedly, the years have taken their toll on the machines, but they are still the most reliable horse in the DB stable.
    Greetings from a train driver from Germany.

  • @avmz111
    @avmz111 Рік тому +217

    The ICE 1 is like a good old friend who should never disappear 😊.

    • @zoolkhan
      @zoolkhan Рік тому +5

      material fatigue will make them disappear either gracefully or forcefully - but disappear they will when maintenance cost become unsustainable.

    • @randomguy2331main
      @randomguy2331main 11 місяців тому +1

      I think it already dissapeared bcz the derailment in eschede

    • @KeVIn-pm7pu
      @KeVIn-pm7pu 11 місяців тому +2

      @@randomguy2331main no it didnt lmao they changed the train wheels.

    • @KeVIn-pm7pu
      @KeVIn-pm7pu 11 місяців тому

      @@zoolkhan one day, before that the expansion of the railnetwork will make it necessary to keep the fleet because no other trains are available in short notice.

    • @ICE_1germany
      @ICE_1germany 4 місяці тому

      Yessir:D

  • @alby6523
    @alby6523 Рік тому +239

    My god, your pronunciation of German words is spectacular. I always read how people adore when you speak their language "correctly" and now I can definitely say the same :D
    Love your videos. I commute by train quite frequently and your videos made me appreciate my long rides a lot more, even with Deutsche Bahn and all its shenanigans.

    • @UnnormaI
      @UnnormaI Рік тому +10

      He did a full review of the ICE 3 in german.

    • @xuus
      @xuus Рік тому

      agreed, also the pronounciation of the russian words was very good!

    • @Jasinglismen
      @Jasinglismen Рік тому

      if DB has a lot of shenanigans, then try the trains in czechia lmao

    • @cosmicdebris2223
      @cosmicdebris2223 23 дні тому

      you're not a native German speaker then.

    • @razorblade420
      @razorblade420 19 днів тому

      bruh im literally german and ngl ive NEVER heard anyone say "ost-baa-n-h-o-f" 😭 its "ohst-b-ah-n-h-oh-f" (then again im from bayern and we have some words swapped so uhm yh....)

  • @Scherrah1010
    @Scherrah1010 Рік тому +194

    The ICE 1 was THE milestone for high-spped rail service in Germany and I totally agree with you that they still live up to their quality, despite being almost 40 years old. Switzerland took some of these into their inventory where they serve long-distance-hauls between Hamburg/Berlin and Interlaken-Ost, as well as Berlin-Basel SBB. The main reason for that decision is their reliability. I wouldn‘t be too surprised if Switzerland would extend their lifespan even past 2030!
    Although the ride isn‘t as smooth as in a modertn ICE3 (neo)/ICE 4 set, they still can compete easily with other HSR sets worldwide.
    Interestingly when the USA ditched the ICE in favor for the Bombardier Acela, many Americans considered that decision a bad one as the Bombardier trainsets often tend to fail service. Yet Amtrak sticks to their decision and a recent upgrade even was made in favor for Bombardier instead of Siemens (although the Velaro D (which represent the ICE 3) was never officially tested in the USA). To this very date the USA still lack a reliable HSR throughout the country and it‘ll take for sure another 30-50 years until the USA will be up to code in that. Currently only west and east coast are benefitting from recently initialized projects for next-gen HSR services with completion of the lines mid 2030 to 2040.
    As you mentioned the ICE 5, yes, the DB are indeed investigating in a replacement for the Velaro D as these trains are also almost 30 years in operation. Siemens and Talgo have both shown concepts already, both looking sleek and modern, while the Talgo has the more aerodynamic design IMHO. You‘ll find videos about future ICE train generations here on UA-cam as well.
    One word about punctuality: Yes, it is known that long-distance trains of DB are commonly known for their (sometimes heavy) delays and DB still struggles to have them on schedule by now. But it must be also noted that DB has no „Taktfahrplan“ unlike Switzerland, meaning that even the slightest delay can lead to even bigger delays the longer the train is operating. DB is currently undergoing major schedule redesign to overcome this problem but it‘ll take some time, like all good things do.
    I still have the dream where trains in Germany run as punctual as in Switzerland but with a network that complex and sensitive to delays, this will be no easy task at all.

    • @Lolwutfordawin
      @Lolwutfordawin Рік тому +18

      Big problem with delays snowballing is key routes being at or even over capacity, with no near term upgrades in sight. Will take many decades until the past 30 years of cost cutting/self sabotage can be undone. "Deutschlandtakt nicht vor 2070" ...

    • @Mark-jt7ww
      @Mark-jt7ww Рік тому +21

      Jo, SBB never bought ICE 1, they just connect DB ICE 1 to Swiss Hubs

    • @Mark-jt7ww
      @Mark-jt7ww Рік тому +1

      Also nobody wants to replace ICE Velaro D, they are not 30 Years old, what are you talking about.

    • @Mark-jt7ww
      @Mark-jt7ww Рік тому +3

      Also the Problem is not the schedules but the infrastructure and the capacity of it.

    • @Mark-jt7ww
      @Mark-jt7ww Рік тому +2

      Also is the suspension not as good as the suspension in the ICE4 which was build on the premise of low cost. Therefore the train does not use airsprung swervedampener. The suspension is the same in the iCE4 and the second class coaches in the ICE1, but worse in the ICE 4 compared to the suspension in first class coaches of ICE 1.
      Also u mentioned that Talgo did pitch their idea for the ICE 5. In reality only Alstom and Siemens have presented ideas, Talgo is only delivering right now the ICE L.

  • @turtlemaster7099
    @turtlemaster7099 Рік тому +147

    I personally like the ICE 1 the most. It is the most cozy i think and it has the most leg room. The leg room in second Class is as good as it is in in First Class of newer ICE trains.

    • @EinChris75
      @EinChris75 Рік тому +15

      Can confirm. ICE1 is more spacious than all newer trains.

    • @wteff8586
      @wteff8586 Рік тому +4

      They're also clearly the prettiest generation of ICE trains

    • @EinChris75
      @EinChris75 Рік тому +6

      @@wteff8586 from the exterior view and the raw technical specs, the ICE 3 is quite a bit more modern. Like power train not power car, max 330 speed, look through cockpit for the first passengers. But it's not as comfy as a gen 1.

    • @007Marke
      @007Marke Рік тому +4

      Absolutely agreed.. ICE 1 and IC 1 are easily best, especially the seats in ICE 4 are TERRIBLE

    • @christianbayerstein5243
      @christianbayerstein5243 Рік тому +1

      that is also the reason why it cannot be used in many European countries, die cars are too wide for France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Therefore the ICE3 had to be more narrow.@@EinChris75

  • @xAciasx
    @xAciasx Рік тому +19

    Old ICE 1 trains used to have screens in the back of the seat in front, even in second class. Every seat also had headphone sockets with 8 programms, 7 and 8 were reserved for the screen entertainement. Seating space was also very high compared to later models.

  • @tonybkent
    @tonybkent Рік тому +23

    I remember travelling on one of these in August 1992 when I was Inter-Railing and being really impressed with the ICE. I didn't realise they were so new at the time, until watching this video

  • @vinniechudam1835
    @vinniechudam1835 Рік тому +9

    1998: I was 20yrs old and booked a 2nd class Eurail pass for Germany. Basically I could travel anywhere on the DB network for 7 days in a month. I slept at Frankfurt airport on the terminal seats a few occasions. I also managed to catch the sleeper train from Brussels to Berlin, and slept in a couchette. These ICE1 trains whisked me the length and breadth of Germany. I was amazed. Fastforward 25 years and I am now very much a First Class traveller by train. Thanks for sharing.

  • @reinhardheim6008
    @reinhardheim6008 Рік тому +45

    You forgot to mention the high ceilings and upper level windows in the restaurant car which is the special touch of the ICE1 train and no other ICE will ever have anymore.

    • @koiyujo1543
      @koiyujo1543 Рік тому +5

      it be cool if they brought that back in the ICE 5 that will come up in the years

    • @markoobid2005
      @markoobid2005 Рік тому +1

      @@koiyujo1543 if they want to use it internationally - then no!

    • @ft4709
      @ft4709 Рік тому

      @@markoobid2005 Luckily, the ICE 5 will be domestic only.

    • @OnceLivedEgeus
      @OnceLivedEgeus Рік тому

      ICE 2 also has high ceiling right?

    • @reinhardheim6008
      @reinhardheim6008 Рік тому +3

      @@OnceLivedEgeus No, sorry. ICE1 has the high ceiling as it is a so called "BordRestaurant" car - class WSmz 804.0. The ICE2 had originally just a "BordBistro" car - class WRmbsz 807.0 - with standard height which was updated to a "BordRestaurant" during the latest redesign.

  • @MaximusPrime_gg
    @MaximusPrime_gg Рік тому +33

    Even though it's 30 years old it still stands well to this day

    • @ki_ba
      @ki_ba Рік тому +2

      bcit is modernized and always "new".
      But the ICE 1 trains are also slowly being retired at the moment.

  • @notroll1279
    @notroll1279 Рік тому +17

    I used those trains a lot for weekly commuting between Berlin and Düsseldorf in 2008.
    I liked the design but they were overdue for refurbishment and only had a single socket on tables for four and nothing for all the pairs of seats in between.
    As soon as they were updated, they were very usable and pleasant - showing that trains can be brilliant for a long time with good maintenance and occasional updates.

  • @patricklnz
    @patricklnz Рік тому +9

    I’m very excited that you took a route that I also travel on quite regularly (Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe-Berlin). Whenever I can, I try to book a connection that's operated by an ICE 1. They are definitely the most comfortable ICE trains. Very happy that you enjoyed your journey. Tbh it even makes me a bit proud.

  • @CAESARbonds
    @CAESARbonds Рік тому +4

    It felt like time travel riding this the first time.
    Digital displays showing your speed and position.
    They even had A phone booth connected to the mobile network. blasting with 280 km/h to your destination in no time.
    This was always an experience.

  • @MrDj200
    @MrDj200 Рік тому +50

    As a german I expected this video to end horribly. So I'm quite surprised that it seemed like a good run.
    Though I am annoyed that my thought was "Oh, only 3 minutes late? That's on time!" :D
    To bad the rail connection to my city got literally washed away in 2021 and they're still not back in action

    • @SuperalbsTravels
      @SuperalbsTravels  Рік тому +5

      Wow, two years out of service? What happened? :(

    • @thisisanametoo
      @thisisanametoo Рік тому +19

      @@SuperalbsTravels There was a huge flood in west germany, which washed away the tracks and destroyed multiple trains.

    • @UnnormaI
      @UnnormaI Рік тому +15

      ​@@SuperalbsTravelsThe Ahrtal flooding in 2021 washed away the Eifelbahn which conected Cologne with Trier. Service has been partially restored and it'll be electrified.

    • @MrDj200
      @MrDj200 Рік тому +3

      @@SuperalbsTravels As others already said, there was a flood. The track is/was right next to the river "Volme" and that got so much water that it just took the railway embankment with it. The tracks were completely hovering in the air due to all the material being gone from under it.
      It's the RB52 that's been out of service specifically

    • @cooltwittertag
      @cooltwittertag Рік тому

      DB is the only operator i ever used where i arrived 12 minutes early, so they can have good days with their variability

  • @Foxy_AR
    @Foxy_AR Рік тому +7

    As someone who is from Fulda, I am happy that you actually mentioned our town 😅

  • @maximusg88
    @maximusg88 Рік тому +552

    Just don't go outside of the Frankfurt station and you'll be fine :D

    • @MrDamodee
      @MrDamodee Рік тому +13

      Why has frankfurt changed, went about 10 years ago

    • @kinghans6266
      @kinghans6266 Рік тому +68

      ​@@MrDamodeeTherfore you have to ask what happened since 2015 mainly.

    • @Tsotne2005
      @Tsotne2005 Рік тому +2

      ​@@kinghans6266what happened

    • @budgiefriend
      @budgiefriend Рік тому +1

      I'm intrigued.

    • @UnnormaI
      @UnnormaI Рік тому +33

      ​@@kinghans6266Nah, it was always like this.

  • @NorthSea_1981
    @NorthSea_1981 Рік тому +7

    I was 10 years old, when the ICE was introduced in 1991. A lot of people here in Germany were immensely proud and looking forward to our domestic national high speed rail service at the time!
    I remember when the Hannover-Würzburg HSR line was built in the 80s. It cost billions and was quite a an achievement, with gigantic viaducts/bridges and countless tunnels, since the line goes through the super hilly central German uplands, often visible along closeby to the main Autobahn A7 route, with gigantic construction sites at the time…
    Before that, there were some upgraded main electrified trunk lines in Germany for fast intercity service, which had been upgraded up to 180-200km/h in the 70s along certain routes, but no proper high speed rail until THIS.
    At the time when the whole German HSR network was originally planned, it was also still a fully nationalized company (it‘s semi-privatized since the 90s, for better or worse). Germany being a pluricentric country with several regional hubs and having a relatively dense network is surely prone to failure when it gets to delays, especially regarding the huge amount of passenger and cargo traffic everywhere. After the 90s, with new international routes towards the East re-established, along with an overall massive increase of traffic, have caused quite a few challenges, not to mention the increasingly bad management of DB in recent years. DB was never perfect, but never this bad in past decades compared to now. Sometimes I think it might be better to put it back under whole national state control, with its own ministry, as was still the case in the 80s.

    • @cooltwittertag
      @cooltwittertag Рік тому +2

      the effects of forcing a profit incentive can be felt on a small level too. Its part of the reason why the BVG in Berlin is more reliable and trustworthy than the SBahn

    • @olivermeineke9707
      @olivermeineke9707 9 місяців тому

      Until 2019, politicians with their four-year terms never defined clear long-term goals and never adequately financed the expansion and maintenance of the rail network. As a result, the network is now outdated and overloaded. And politics is not improving: the old government wanted the fully integrated "Germany-Takt" timetable by 2030, the new government is postponing it to 2070 and is focusing on renovating heavily used corridors. Railroads require large long term investment - it seems like short sighted politics are unable to meet this requirement.

  • @coolmasterztv3088
    @coolmasterztv3088 Рік тому +7

    I love the way how these German trains are designed.

  • @mysteriousm.9158
    @mysteriousm.9158 8 місяців тому +1

    I am a train driver from DB Fernverkehr and I love the Br401. Although it is over 30 years old it is still such a masterpiece.It's always a pleasure to drive one of them myself.♥️

    • @SuperalbsTravels
      @SuperalbsTravels  8 місяців тому +1

      Agreed, you can't beat the classics sometimes, right? :)

    • @mysteriousm.9158
      @mysteriousm.9158 8 місяців тому +1

      @@SuperalbsTravels I totally agree!:)

  • @Flo123XYZ
    @Flo123XYZ Рік тому +1

    Very nice Video! Greetings from Germany🇩🇪:)

  • @tjaardb.kaffee1488
    @tjaardb.kaffee1488 Рік тому +5

    Love your videos, as well as the ICE:D I am always impressed by your attention to details and your pronounciation of German words! Little correction though, Germanys busiest station is Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, Frankfurt Hbf is 'just' the second busiest.
    Keep up your phenomenal videos!

  • @BritishRail60062
    @BritishRail60062 10 місяців тому

    This is my favorite train in Germany. I hope they will have a couple of them preserved as part of their heritage fleet in the future as I would like to ride one of these myself. Great video buddy and thanks for uploading.

  • @no-damn-alias
    @no-damn-alias Рік тому +13

    The ICE 1 is a great train although they start to show their age. When you sit on a window seat best in the middle of the car. Lean on the wall or stuck you hand between the wall and the seat and you can feel how the car is flexing especially when you're driving into a tunnel at high speeds due to the pressure differentials.
    Recently took an ICE from Berlin to Munich via Erfurt which was served by an ICE 1 . I was very happy about it not being an ICE 4 .
    Better seats, more space, faster and quieter.
    It was running late as a passenger needed medical attention so we were going 280km/h where possible.
    You could definetly feel the flex being more than in an ICE 3 although that was almost 10 years ago now and being way more than in an ICE 4 but that one's going slower as well.
    Yes the LDV will shorten these trains for two reasons.
    Some middle cars are simply too worn so they can't use them any longer.
    Also they want to protect the power units.
    They already had to do a full overhaul of the drive train and change the GTOs to IGBT.
    So they want to baby the trains.
    How I know DB these trains will run beyond 2030 and only the ICE 5 will replace them.
    All other trains will simply extend the ICE network as many IC lines will be converted to ICE so people have to pay a higher fare.

  • @mbkr1159
    @mbkr1159 Рік тому +1

    Its so cute how you spell german expressions! Im living in Göttingen, north of Kassel and did spend my childhood and youth in a village next to the High Speed Line. I went and am sometimes still seeing ICEs just 15 minutes away from our house there- too bad you didnt include Göttingen in your Presentation!

  • @officialflorint
    @officialflorint Рік тому +2

    I'm originally from Kassel, nice that you mentioned the RegioTrams, I've been taking one to school and back every day from 1st grade until high school graduation haha

  • @EpicThe112
    @EpicThe112 Рік тому +7

    For your subscribers in the United States it should be familiar to them because 30 years ago DB Baureihe 401 ran between Washington Union Station in New Haven Connecticut both directions alongside the X2000 from Sweden. The high speed line is called Schnellfahrstrecke Hannover Würzburg which your train did the Fulda Hannover segement via Kassel Wilhelmshöhe. The reason why the route has 4 tracks on some parts it's designed to send freight trains during the evening

    • @seewulf1993
      @seewulf1993 Рік тому +1

      The ICE´s to Berlin usually use the Highspeed track just till Hildesheim as they run then via Braunschweig

  • @WKPExpressMovies
    @WKPExpressMovies Рік тому +3

    7:00 Actually, the speed of the high speed railway Hannover-Würzburg is limited to 250 km/h only in tunnels, outside even 280 km/h are allowed. If the train is delayed or not, doesn't matter.
    But due to the fact that this railway mostly consists of tunnels following close to each other, there are only a few parts between Hannover and Göttingen as well as between Fulda and Würzburg, where it makes sense to push the train to 280 km/h, in case of a delay. But that is the decision of the driver. I've already been on an ICE going 280 km/h there, even though running on time.

  • @distinctdipole
    @distinctdipole 3 місяці тому

    This was my first non-HST high speed train back in the mid/late 90s. Used to get it from Gottingen to Berlin with the friend I was living with. Very impressed when they were new and good to see they've stood the test of time.

  • @koiyujo1543
    @koiyujo1543 Рік тому +4

    It's amazing the ICE 1 still is so great in terms of quality today despite it being over 30 years old!

  • @Martin_Trainspotter
    @Martin_Trainspotter Рік тому +11

    I like all the ICE's to be honest. 😊
    I also can't wait to see the new DB Talgo train sets in action. 😎

  • @antonnurwald5700
    @antonnurwald5700 Рік тому +3

    Ooooooh i love the first generation ICEs! The restaurant with the elevated roof is so classy!

  • @wilsondaily826
    @wilsondaily826 Рік тому +5

    Brunswick is not the 'historical' name, but rather the english transliteration of Braunschweig, as it has always been known to the Germans.

  • @CFRTrainSpotter
    @CFRTrainSpotter Рік тому +8

    I took the ICE 1 from Ribnitz-Damgarten to Hamburg, and while it was only running on a high-speed stretch of track briefly, i must say that the ride was very enjoyable. They are the only ICE trains that still have compartiments, which is a big plus (sadly the trend is for train interiors to be more and more like airplanes). the restaurant car with the higher roof is also something worth noting.
    overall a very good train after more than 30 years in service.

    • @markoobid2005
      @markoobid2005 Рік тому

      Compartments are a big minus! Especially in Germany where there are many people travelling by train.

    • @svr5423
      @svr5423 Рік тому +1

      @@markoobid2005 In Germany people are travelling by car or airplane. Trains are full because they are not many of them.
      I always booked compartments when I travelled with ICE. Much quieter cabin.

    • @markoobid2005
      @markoobid2005 Рік тому +2

      @@svr5423 you serious? Not many of them when there are ICE trains in half-hourly departures?
      Compartments are outdated, uncomfortable for solo passengers (a majority) and reduce capacity. That means more people standing. Just compare the capacity of ICE 1 to one of ICE 4.

    • @svr5423
      @svr5423 Рік тому +1

      @@markoobid2005 Often you have only hourly (or 2 hourly for long distance) connections when here in Switzerland you can get a train every 15min including weekends.
      Night trains are missing as well in Germany. If you want to go home on Saturday or Sunday at 3am, you're mostly out of luck.
      The reason why people are standing is because they don't use enough wagons and the schedule it too scarce. That's why you need to make a reservation in a german long distance train and then kick the guy out of the chair that's trying to steal it.
      Locally, I often saw trains with one engine, a 1st class and a 2nd class wagon. Now everybody crammed into the 2nd class because you don't buy 1st class for just 15min.
      Besides the DB, there are local train operators with much more modern and comfortable wagons. And sometimes they would extend their trains out of goodwill, since the government didn't want to pay for it.
      And only few cities have ICE connections in the first place.

    • @markoobid2005
      @markoobid2005 Рік тому

      @@svr5423 how can you extend ICE train? Impossible. When 13 open space cars (as in ICE 4 XXL version) are not enough, then you know there is something wrong with the society - overpopulated. This is the main reason for full trains. People need to stop having children NOW.
      There is no room for compartments in modern world, they are uncomfortable because you are in a closed room with 5 strangers staring in your face and limiting your legroom. This is not only the violation of privacy, but also poses an increased risk of people meeting each other and getting into relationships, resulting in more children. and even more overpopulation.
      So only the airplane-style seats are contemporary. There you have enough legroom, personal table and electric outlet, and no one is looking at you.

  • @legitscoper3259
    @legitscoper3259 Рік тому

    By your wording phrasing within the first 45 seconds alone, you got me to Subscribe. Greetings from a German Train driver.

  • @unknown-wn2rh
    @unknown-wn2rh Рік тому +6

    As far as I'm aware, the station featured in 1:13 isn't actually Frankfurth (am Main) Hbf, but much rather Nürnberg Hbf..

    • @SuperalbsTravels
      @SuperalbsTravels  Рік тому +5

      You are right, but I didn't have any other footage, so shhhh! 😉

    • @unknown-wn2rh
      @unknown-wn2rh Рік тому +1

      I just get to visit Nürnberg Hbf quite often, as I live an about 40 minute train ride away. So when I saw the clip, I was just like, "Hold up.. This isn't Frankfurth.." Great video btw!

    • @antonnurwald5700
      @antonnurwald5700 Рік тому +1

      For a tiny, tiny moment, but yes.

  • @LowaddictsSoundsystem
    @LowaddictsSoundsystem Рік тому +11

    Nice! We've a similar tram system here in The Netherlands called 'Randstad Rail'. Based around the city of The Hague and even uses the same types of trams(:

  • @ognjenstevanovic9858
    @ognjenstevanovic9858 Рік тому

    I'm glad you enjoyed. It's nice that it's 30 years old and still in great shape, it's sad that they want to replace it.

  • @EnjoyFirefighting
    @EnjoyFirefighting Рік тому +1

    12:40 only 2 minutes behind schedule ... keep in mind: after travelling all across the country, on a route which is by far neither the shortest nor quickest between Munich and Berlin, but obviously covering and serving numerous large cities along its route.

  • @simonf8490
    @simonf8490 Рік тому +1

    As a little kid I went on the ICE1 once when they were new, I no longer live in Germany but been back for holidays. Last time, I took this service to Frankfurt looking forward to it. The first one broke down, the replacement caught on fire not long after resulting in everyone getting cramped onto an ancient IC service resulting in me almost missing my flight. The ICE1 however still feels very modern and hopefully next time I'll have better luck.

  • @pjotrpirhagen
    @pjotrpirhagen Місяць тому

    I had one above my bed as a kid, so I was too curious to finally ride one a couple of years ago! Love them, they're still so good :)

  • @rezaalan3991
    @rezaalan3991 Рік тому +1

    Great trip, it's great to see ICE 1 still in service today and can be operated for extended time. And yeah another hit of Germany pronunciation

  • @olivermeineke9707
    @olivermeineke9707 Рік тому +4

    The ICE 1s restaurant car is gorgeous. Btw.: Germanys first high speed train was the "Fliegender Hamburger" from 1932.

  • @bernardmueller5676
    @bernardmueller5676 Рік тому +3

    You CAN use the DB lounge if you have a first class ticket.

    • @bjorn6530
      @bjorn6530 Рік тому +1

      Only if you have a 1st class Flex-Ticket. Discounted tickets (Sparpreis, Supersparpreis) will not allow access. It was not mentioned directly, but a ticket only valid for a special train are always discounted. Gold or platin status as frequent travller will allow access, too.

  • @k.r.99
    @k.r.99 Рік тому

    There's just something magnificent about it's shape and design. It just looks so smooth and seamless. My older brother had an electronic toy ICE with tracks as a kid. This only adds to the nostalgia. I personally have never been on one.

  • @torstenwinkler1157
    @torstenwinkler1157 Рік тому

    So cool to see my hometown of Braunschweig appear in one of your videos!! 😃👍

  • @LexusLFA554
    @LexusLFA554 Рік тому +4

    Based on the german train I would guess the Alex video will release soon? :)
    As a child I had a small model of this train, I still think it looks neat from the outside. Never had the chance to travel on one :(
    Love your german pronounciations, they are very good.

  • @Kuatier
    @Kuatier Рік тому +2

    Damn thanks for uploading. Must be older footage, since in 2:34 you can see a special "Metropolitan" trainset, which left service IIRC two yeras ago.

  • @ylilin
    @ylilin Рік тому +3

    I'd love to see a ICE 2, ICE T & ICE 3 (Classic) review.
    Especially with the upgrades all three have received by DB Systemtechnik in recent years.

  • @hanshartfiel6394
    @hanshartfiel6394 Рік тому +1

    Frankfurt am Main was not named after the river Main. The "am Main" is only there as there are two cities called Frankfurt the other one being on the river Oder. The am Main means on the Main.

  • @aspiringtechnician
    @aspiringtechnician Рік тому +1

    I love the look of the ICE 1 and 2

  • @leduc6919
    @leduc6919 Рік тому +2

    German here. IMO the ICE 1,2 and original 3 still hold up amazingly well considering their age. We have regional trains that are 3 years old that feel FAR worse to ride on than the ICE 1. Sure, it's not perfect and there are things that the 2 and 3 and espeically 4, even if I don't like that one, improved upon, but it still holds up absolutely well.

  • @drealcf7513
    @drealcf7513 Рік тому +3

    Funny enough, the ICE 1 that was shipped to the US once i was able to be in the front car with the traindriver cause i'm a trainee at DB Fernverkehr and i was shown the interior of that kind of trains.

  • @MikeS29
    @MikeS29 Рік тому +1

    I certainly laughed when you tried to put the beer glass in the dedicated detent. Those kinds of things drive me crazy 😅

  • @jemoeder5347
    @jemoeder5347 Рік тому

    I had the pleasure of traveling with one last summer, in second class. First leg of the journey, they radiate a sort of calmness that more modern ICE carriages, as well as more modern trains in general, miss.

  • @Paul-hq7gf
    @Paul-hq7gf Рік тому

    1:34 if you filmed this on a tuesday or thursday then there's quite a big chance I was on that specific train. Nice vid as always!

  • @carlo26
    @carlo26 Рік тому

    Quick tip for 1st clas seat service if no personel is around: in the iceportal, you can check on the menu tab to the right, you can order the Things you want directly to your seat via giving your coach No. and seat number.
    It is not available all the time, i even had it one time that it said it is available, but got an notification that due to understaffing my order can not be delivered to me directly.
    But mist times it is available

  • @gelegenheits_spotter
    @gelegenheits_spotter Рік тому

    A very good video, as always :)
    But respect, you have really done very good and accurate research 👍👍

  • @MarioFanGamer659
    @MarioFanGamer659 Рік тому +2

    My first travel on an intercity train also happen to be on an ICE 1 which happened more than a year ago. Unlike your travel, though, I took an ICE Spriter which took the route further east, going through Erfurt and Halle instead of Kassel and Wolfsburg. A side effect is that most of my journey was on conventional tracks, though I didn't mind it too much in that I prefer rail over air travel. My return journey also ran through the same route, incidentally also ICE 1. The only things which went wrong there was that I got an ICE 1 twice, my first ride had broken reservations and display screens and that they were only relatively punctual (i.e. a couple minutes late) but otherwise was quite a smooth ride.

  • @wy2679
    @wy2679 Рік тому +1

    I have the ice 1 as a model railway from märklin 🙂

  • @rgboss1337
    @rgboss1337 Рік тому +1

    As a German i have to say that those trains are very confortable, quiet and for me who only uses trains to get to vecation so i don´t need to use seem on the daily basis, i only had good experiences with th ICE trains exept one time where the AC was broken in a carrage and my booked seat wasn´t available and i had to search a new seat and hope that nobody else comes and booked the seat.

  • @MicksA
    @MicksA Рік тому +14

    As an Australian I was excited to visit Germany for the first time last month, I heard a lot of good things about how state of the art their ICE system is, and all I can say is, France and Spain was FAR BETTER. The ICE system was slow and cancelling regularly. I then went to Japan, and that sh*ts on every railway system in the world.

    • @Scherrah1010
      @Scherrah1010 Рік тому +6

      Umm, okay, so what does it have to do with a heavily overcrowded timetable and other local trains sharing the same tracks as the ICE with it‘s technics? The ICE 2 okay that was a fiasco as many of these trains had their technical problems but they‘re all ironed out by now yet the problem with bad track usage planning still exists. A problem DB is now addressing… finally! Japan has a way less complex track system and another timetable system (equal to the one in Switzerland!) which makes if of course easier to maintain punctuality…. Well DUH! No rocket science here!
      And Spain/France have their expertise in HS rail service since the early 80‘s so of course they do better than Germany. Also no big Brainer here and additional to that, both countries have separate tracks for HS services and commuter services whereas in Germany these often share the same tracks.

    • @svr5423
      @svr5423 Рік тому +1

      Fully agree. The ICE system in Germany is overhyped. Sure, the trains are nice when they actually go and are maintained. But due to the nonexistence of high speed track segments, they go the same speed as regular trains most of the time. Which means that door-to-door, it's comparable to travelling by car. And this is when there are no delays/cancellations which happen quite often for various reasons (bi-annual strikes, snow in winter, heat in summer,..).
      Japan is the gold standard for high speed railway. TGV is similar in speed, but the ride comfort is classes worse.
      Here in Switzerland, we also have a great railway system. You can even take one up to a glacier. But no high speed trains as there are no use for them due to the small size of the country.

    • @Scherrah1010
      @Scherrah1010 Рік тому +2

      @@svr5423 I wouldn‘t say the ICE trains are overhyped. They get to speed once they have their HS track for themselves but Germany has not many tracks capable of handling speeds greater than 160-200kmph. However Germany is heavily expanding their HS rail network and then the ICE trains could definitely play their cards. A direct HS line from Munich to Berlin could result ina a 3 hour travel instead of the 5:45 travel today. But until that will happen, there will be passing some more years.

    • @svenlakemeier
      @svenlakemeier Рік тому +1

      @@Scherrah1010 Munich to Berlin is under 4 hours, with the new time table 3:46 from München HBF to Berlin HBF.

    • @Scherrah1010
      @Scherrah1010 Рік тому +1

      @@svenlakemeier Okay, didn‘t know that. Last info I had was over 5hr travel time.

  • @maestromecanico597
    @maestromecanico597 Рік тому +1

    I rode the ICE (and X2000) in Amtrak service 30 years ago. Instead they bought junk they are trying to replace. Yet the original ICE and X2000 will be in service to and through the end of this decade.

  • @baseballfan99
    @baseballfan99 Рік тому +1

    I remember being very excited to see them back in 1994 but our regional pass did not allow free travel on it unlike EuroCity etc. My first trip on one was in 2001 and I was very impressed.

  • @FromtheWindowSeat
    @FromtheWindowSeat Рік тому

    Reallly enjoyed this one. Cheers! 🍻 It’s certainly an iconic train. 😎

  • @JLeman-me1xh
    @JLeman-me1xh Рік тому +1

    Nice vid and good pronounciation of german Cities and words.

  • @novatraugott
    @novatraugott 6 місяців тому +1

    We have the ICE 1, the ICE 2, the ICE 3, the ICE 4, and the ICE T! But there´s no Velaro D´s or Neo´s running here! But not long ago, while I was at a skatepark, a red BR 101 came and stopped an ICE L right in front of us! I was so shocked! But I´ve seen ICE L´s every now and then! We have a TON of ICE 4 and not many ICE 3´s and ICE T´s!

    • @olasola1013
      @olasola1013 2 місяці тому

      In service, there are:
      - 58 ICE 1s
      - 43 ICE 2s
      - 70 ICE Ts (59 7-car, 11 5-car)
      - 65 ICE 3s (both classes)
      - 17 ICE 3 Velaro Ds
      - 20 ICE 3neos (22 delivered, 90 ordered in total
      - 137 ICE 4s (37 7-car, 50 12-car, 50 13-car)
      - 0 ICE Ls (unknown amount delivered, 79 ordered in total)
      There’s also one ICE TD being used as a train laboratory

  • @TRANSPORTEXCELLENCE2011
    @TRANSPORTEXCELLENCE2011 Рік тому

    Congrats with 94000 subscribers 🎉🎉😊

  • @trailwayt9HG
    @trailwayt9HG Рік тому

    Thankyou sr.
    For introducing of this beautifull train and it's fecilitys ❤

  • @FightingForceSoulless
    @FightingForceSoulless Рік тому

    Needs some minor attention and interior touchups, other than that, these could go for another 20 years, they look amazing.

  • @TRANSPORTEXCELLENCE2011
    @TRANSPORTEXCELLENCE2011 Рік тому +3

    Nice 😊I took this train from Köln to Düsseldorf(on the 2 of November)😊😊

  • @devn3813
    @devn3813 Рік тому +3

    I rode on many trains in Germany last may. They are pretty old overall, but still a century newer than anything the United States has.

  • @calvinallan2208
    @calvinallan2208 Рік тому +2

    0:45 Even in the dullest of weather...You mean typical German weather 😅😅

  • @kobold2376
    @kobold2376 Рік тому +2

    there as new inside Design for ice 3 neo br 408 - i really like it because there is a lot of wood inside, i really would like you checking this out and give your comment
    keep up your good work!

  • @pascalw.1027
    @pascalw.1027 Рік тому +2

    The ICE 1 is an extremely reliable train and also comfortable. It has those older seats with better padding and more legroom, so that the cabin feels spacious, unlike in the ICE 4, where it feels like you are sitting in an airplane. After the first generation ICE 3 that train together with the similar ICE 2 are my most favourite ❤️. They all have those smaller cabins also, which allow some privacy. Sadly the newer ones are just built to get as much people as possible into a train and are not about comfort. The new seats are also a huge downgrade compared to those in the ICE 1 and 2.

  • @alpenroseable
    @alpenroseable Рік тому

    i very like your explanations around the journey and the train 10 out of 10 brilliant excellent

  • @NorthSea_1981
    @NorthSea_1981 Рік тому

    Fantastic video as always ❤

  • @GeniusSL
    @GeniusSL Рік тому

    Had the ICE 1 a few times as a replacement for the ICE 4 earlier this year traveling from Leipzig to Frankfurt aM. I'd say I was lucky then, since they are way more comfortable than the ICE4.🥰

  • @maxvandoorn3799
    @maxvandoorn3799 11 місяців тому

    0:31 kinda depends. Hamburg has more travelers per day than Frankfurt, it is surprisingly also not the station with the most trains (Hamburg again if you include S-Bahn, München if you exclude) but it can be argued that it is the most important one, as it is a major interchange hub in the middle of Germany. Hamburg and München most often are the end of the line, with just a selected few going further (Altona of course not counting). Frankfurt on the other hand has lines runing in all directions from it. When I visit both my grandparent oer train I most often have to change at either Köln of Frankfurt.

  • @trainingtheworld5093
    @trainingtheworld5093 Рік тому +1

    I took ICE trains this year. They were expensive, late and absolutely full. My train from Berlin to Frankfurt had people without seat reservations sitting in reserved seats, standing in the isles. A filthy guy with a large dog tried to sit next to me I had to get staff to help. A group of guys got extremely drunk on another train in reserved 1st class they were extremely loud. Many staff didn’t do anything and the buffet car was too busy. Never again.

  • @Gokatgo
    @Gokatgo Рік тому +1

    9:59 lol I love that that you refuse to call them ICE's.

  • @cosmicdebris2223
    @cosmicdebris2223 23 дні тому

    2:28 is an IC train. The one on the far right (with the nose out of the picture) is an ICE.

  • @Ilove80sever
    @Ilove80sever Рік тому

    In Spain we have a similar case to these ICE 1 train, but we have AVE 100 series, to put on service in 1992 due to the opening of Madrid - Seville train line. They are still in service, it seems like they are good trains too. Quite older but reliable at the end. For 2024 talgo 106 series will be active trains, AVRIL.

  • @Jan_haj
    @Jan_haj Рік тому +2

    Didn't expect your train to be on time, what a nice suprise 😅💪🏼
    Germany sadly has a different time-system as other countries, meaning that everything up to five minutes late, as well as canceled trains, are being counted as on time. So if all planned connections tomorrow would get canceled, they would be counted as 100% on time...
    But even with this questionable calculation, the DB long distance trains were only 65,2% "on time" in 2022 (statista) 🤦🏼‍♂️

    • @Anonym-dg7xd
      @Anonym-dg7xd Рік тому +3

      Thats not entirerly correct. If a train is cancelled it will not be counted as on Time or as delay. It simply wont appear on their statistic at all.

    • @alexanderivkin7086
      @alexanderivkin7086 Рік тому

      @@Anonym-dg7xd Exactly. And in 2022 thousands of trains were just cancelled. Because Deutsche Bahn is incompetent. Hallf of their staff is leaving between 2020 and 2030, because of retirement, but they only talk about 25.000 new employees every year. The reality is, they only get 12.000 who stay there longterm, which is not enough, when you have around 15.000-18.000 leaving.

    • @marcd6897
      @marcd6897 Рік тому

      @@alexanderivkin7086Yes, welcome to the new reality. Like in so many other areas and industries. But sure, we don’t need foreign folks that could help us out…

    • @svr5423
      @svr5423 Рік тому

      I don't take the train anymore in Germany. Always travel by car or airplane.
      On time was around 50% before (always count end-to-end). So the statistics are faked. It's not uncommon to see all trains delayed at a station by 30 to 45min.

  • @Ruvi5000
    @Ruvi5000 Рік тому

    2:31 is actually a one off MET train, converted to ICE use and is actually not in use today anymore

  • @BigPaul62
    @BigPaul62 Рік тому

    As with our much loved HST 125's, this train proves that new isn't always best.

  • @christophermiel
    @christophermiel Рік тому +2

    "we cross the river Main after which the city is named" Frankmain am Furt.

  • @maleeshapriyanjana7604
    @maleeshapriyanjana7604 Рік тому

    I think this is the one of the only train that got your appreciation and satisfaction about seats.

    • @SuperalbsTravels
      @SuperalbsTravels  Рік тому +1

      Most trains I ride on get positive reviews for the seats, I'm not sure what you mean? :)

    • @maleeshapriyanjana7604
      @maleeshapriyanjana7604 Рік тому

      @@SuperalbsTravels I did not meant to insult you. I hae seen you was upset about seets in some trains. specially about foot space and cusionning.Atleast one defect is there. But this train, all of your coments about are positive.

  • @uncipaws7643
    @uncipaws7643 Рік тому

    One thing I like to do is pluck the string at the side of the window.
    And yes if you book ahead you can sometimes get very reasonably priced first class tickets (Supersparpreis). You won't have lounge access though.
    ICE 1 is especially popular among those who like travelling in compartments (aren't they 5-seat in first class?)

  • @joshi_1202
    @joshi_1202 5 місяців тому +1

    1:37 HLB not only operates routes to Hanau and Aschaffenburg from this station, but also Eltville, Siegen/Dillenburg, Kassel/Treysa and Nidda - more than Vias. They even used to have 2 more routes, which have recently been taken over by DB-owned operator Start.

  • @Risinghaze
    @Risinghaze Рік тому

    If you wanna look at a trainride, that is a bit... "slower" and older, maybe the HSB is something for you. Thats the "Harzer Schmalspurbahnen". They mainly run steam trains for tourists, BUT there most of the routes are build in the public transportation network and are used as "normal" trains. So, if you will, thats the last steam powered regional train in germany. They run, for example the "Harzer Querbahn". That goes from Wernigerode to Nordhausen. Sometimes they use there Dieselengines or just Dieselunits. But sometimes they are using the steam trains :)

  • @ph11p3540
    @ph11p3540 Місяць тому

    What amazes me as a Canadian citizen is how so many different national train lines are allowed to use each others train stations. Much like they are airports. Part of the reason why passenger rail is nearly impossible to reestablish back in Canada or US is the big class 1 freight rail companies jealously guard their track priorities making passenger trains very much low priority traffic.

  • @nettcologne9186
    @nettcologne9186 Рік тому

    Many Germans insisted on calling the train the I nter C ity E xpress, but I always thought it was great, when foreigners use the nickname Icetrain, it's a great compliment.

  • @arnomrnym6329
    @arnomrnym6329 Рік тому

    @ 8:13 'That's what I call a realy, realy proper poured Weizenbier. 😁Zum Wohl 🍻
    After 32 year in business, they still look better than everything the USA has to offer, not to mention the speed. 😉
    Two days ago I saw a YT-Vid about the problems of the Acela trains from Alstom. Looks like they made a wrong decission back in '93! 😂
    Thx for taking us with u on this trip. 👍🏾😎

  • @finni3655
    @finni3655 Рік тому +1

    2:30 that isn‘t actually a ICE, that’s a IC (Intercity) the version before the ICE.

    • @SuperalbsTravels
      @SuperalbsTravels  Рік тому

      It's definitely an ICE, I went on it myself!
      ua-cam.com/video/zML_DViwMW0/v-deo.html

    • @finni3655
      @finni3655 Рік тому

      Yeah, its more like a stereotype, some say it was worth to be a IC. 😂

  • @SammycraftHP
    @SammycraftHP 9 місяців тому +1

    The problem of the DB is that the Trains are Delayed or cancelled.. but Cool video!

  • @patrickhanft
    @patrickhanft Рік тому +1

    Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe or as it goes by its nick name "Palace of a thousand winds" 😃

  • @mx338
    @mx338 Рік тому

    In my opinion the ICE 1 is best enjoyed in a six seat compartment and it's my favourite ICE to ride then.

  • @ajfrostx
    @ajfrostx Рік тому

    These are probably my favourite high speed trains.

  • @DerNoergler
    @DerNoergler Рік тому

    Great Video. Thanks!

  • @boris4640
    @boris4640 Рік тому +1

    One should note that although the later ICE versions are supposed to be „more modern“ doesn‘t really mean they are better than the ICE 1. Legroom has decreased as well as general comfort of the seats in the later ICE versions. Unfortunately I don‘t have a link to a video which shows the comparison. Also the early ICE 1 interior is really in need for refurbishment by now.

    • @SuperalbsTravels
      @SuperalbsTravels  Рік тому +1

      I have videos to offer a comparison. ;)
      ua-cam.com/video/Re9bv0kdZQ4/v-deo.html
      ua-cam.com/video/8WUks8MQJGY/v-deo.html