Routes
Some travel times: Frankfurt-Hamburg: 3h25, Frankfurt-München (Munich): 3h10, Hamburg-München: 5h30, Berlin- Frankfurt: 3h29, Frankfurt- Köln: 1h15, Frankfurt-Amsterdam: 3h52, Frankfurt-Brussels: 3h32; Berlin-Hamburg: 1h32.
ICE high-speed train
ICE trains operate all over Germany, with many connections to neighbouring countries.
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).
Conditions for Eurail Pass holders
Reservations for regular ICE trains are not required for Eurail Pass holders. However they are recommended, especially during peak periods. The fees are: 1st class: € 5 / 2nd class: € 4.
The Deutsche Bahn advises travelers to make reservations for a seat on long-distance journeys, because otherwise all seats may be taken, especially on Fridays and Sundays. ICE reservations can often be made online.
For the ICE Sprinter trains reservations are compulsory. The fees are: 1st class: € 16 / 2nd class: € 11. These are extra fast trains between Germany's major cities during rush hours, aimed at business travelers.
Service
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.
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.
Website: Deutsche Bahn - ICE
photographer: Martin Kers