Before the implementation of the NBS
high-speed line Frankfurt-Cologne journey times of ICE were
2 hours and 15 minutes using the classical line of 226 km in
the Valley of the Rhine, now thanks to new line convoys ICE3
takes less than an hour to run the 177 km. The NBS
Cologne-Frankfurt line is designed for commercial use at
speeds over 300 km/h and is the first application in
Germany of ballastless way. A major engineering challenge
was the tunnel of 2,375 metres near Limburg. In total there
are 30 tunnels, 18 viaducts and 7,000 minor structures. This
line differs from the previous German high-speed lines
because it is designed purely for high-speed trains, and not
for mixed-use. The ICE3 trains have distributed power on
wagons and this has allowed the inclusion of very steep
gradients, up to 4%, making the line similar to the French
LGV. As in other cases, the line is complemented with a
motorway, the A3, to limit the environmental impact. There
are three intermediate stations in Limburg Süd Montabaur and
Siegburg. The ICE3 manage all the services, often in pairs.
Designed with the primary objective of reducing the weight
and fuel consumption have eight carriages and have
distributed power. The variant ICE3M can operate with four
different voltages, in order to enable operations also in
Belgium, Holland and France.
