This article describes the latest developments in the high-speed train development programme of the German Federal Railway (DB). Stage 1 of the programme was completed in May 1993, with all 60 sets of DB's IC- Express (ICE) fleet in revenue service. The implementation of Stage 2 has begun, and Stage 3 will follow in 2000. During Stage 1, 100km of new line was constructed, and about 2,300km of other routes were upgraded, much of it for 200kph. As a result, three high-speed ICE routes are now running, which are very popular, because of their competitive journey times. Stage 2 objectives include: (1) improving links between the former West Germany and East Germany; (2) extending the German ICE network, and integrating it with routes planned as European high-speed corridors; (3) establishing high-capacity corridors for long-distance international freight; (4) remodelling Berlin's whole rail infrastructure. New ICE routes will include Hannover to Berlin and Koeln to Frankfurt. On curving routes where the very high costs of new lines cannot be justified, preparations are being made to introduce tilting trains, whose top speed can be upgraded from 120kph to 160kph. They may also be introduced as a short-term measure to speed services before tracks are upgraded. A table presents German railways' capital investment programme for 1992-2000.
The history of slab track construction in Germany is described. A total of 155 km of double-track slab track has been constructed on the Cologne-Rhine/Main 300 km/hour high-speed line. The design parameters that led to slab track being chosen over ballast track for the high-speed line are outlined. Construction of the slab track on the new line is discussed with reference to the rail supports, concrete-embedded two-block sleepers, the Rheda and Zueblin systems, turnouts, bridges and expansion joints. The other slab track systems used in the high-speed network of DB Netz AG are outlined.
German Federal Railway (DB) commenced operations on its high-speed system on 2nd June 1991, with 23 InterCity Express (ICE) units running on the 950 km long Hamburg - Hanover - Frankfurt/Main - Stuttgart - Munich line. Following Japan, France and Italy, Germany thereby became the fourth country to operate high-speed rail services at over 200 km/h.
