InterCity Express

German railway system

Also known as: ICE

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

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The InterCity Express (ICE) is Germany's high-speed rail network, initiated in 1991 with new lines between Hannover-Würzburg and Mannheim-Stuttgart. These lines were engineered to accommodate passenger trains at 280 km/h (174 mph) and freight trains at 160 km/h (100 mph). The ICE network has continued to expand, with notable additions including the line between Hannover and Berlin (opened 1998) and the high-traffic corridor between Cologne and Frankfurt am Main (opened 2002). High-speed rail, like the ICE, is a crucial part of modern intercity travel, offering speeds that compete with air and road transport, and is often favored for its environmental benefits, such as reduced fossil fuel consumption and lower emissions.1

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railroad
Western Europe
…was the beginning of Germany’s InterCity Express (ICE) high-speed rail network, which has continued to grow as further lines have been constructed, notably between Hannover and Berlin (opened 1998) and in Germany’s most heavily trafficked corridor, Cologne–Frankfurt am Main (opened 2002).
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…was the beginning of Germany’s InterCity Express (ICE) high-speed rail network, which has continued to grow as further lines have been constructed, notably between Hannover and Berlin (opened 1998) and in Germany’s most heavily trafficked corridor, Cologne–Frankfurt am Main (opened 2002).
Read More