STORY: Maiden voyage at up to 320 kilometers per hour – The ICE 3neo is to improve the service offered by Deutsche Bahn from December 11th. First on the route Dortmund, Cologne, Frankfurt/Main to Munich. Deutsche Bahn Board Member Michael Peterson was pleased with the fast delivery: “Yes, this train is not only a record train in terms of its top speed, but also a record train in terms of procurement. We ordered this train two and a half years ago, and two and a half years later it’s already here. Normally, such a procurement takes twice as long. And yet it’s not just a train off the shelf, but a train with many innovations and new features. And that’s what our teams from DB and Siemens have here, really, really Great things are put on track. That we deliver on time, even a week early, despite the pandemic, despite supply chains, difficulties that exist at the moment.” Karl-Peter Naumann from the Pro Bahn passenger association was also pleased: “Because there should be more Sprinter connections between Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, as well as between Berlin and Munich. Trains like this are needed for this. And experience shows that that’s exactly what it is Fast driving is also very, very well received by part of the audience.” With the 73 new trains, Deutsche Bahn’s ICE fleet will grow to around 450 trains and a further 32,000 seats by 2029. The ICE is also the first high-speed train operated by Deutsche Bahn to have windows that allow cell phones to pass through. These should ensure a better mobile network inside the train. From 2024, the trains will also be used internationally on routes to Belgium and the Netherlands.