ICE-3 and ICE-T/VT problems; DB refuses delivery

From NationalCorridors.org's Destination Freedom newsletter...looks like the ICE-3 has more problems than the Acela Express. Cited problems are with "brakes, propulsion controls, and various electrical systems", which are absent from the ICE-1 and ICE-2, reportedly. Also cited are problems with windows, toilets and air conditioning. DB is refusing delivery of the last thirteen ICE-3 trainsets, even though they're partially paid for.

The tilt EMU version, the ICE-T, apparently suffers from early wheel wear in addition to the problems shared with the ICE-3 (this variant is for use on traditional rail lines and has a top speed of 143 mph, which makes it more of a parallel to the AE than the ICE-3). The tilting DMU version, the ICE-VT (top speed 125 mph IIRC), suffered from cracks in its wheel axles and parts of its suspension ("suffered" because they are past-tense—DBAG yanked the trainsets, reportedly capable of 125 mph, out of service and is now trying to sell them, although no buyer has been identified as yet).

Spain is set to run a variant of the ICE-3 on the Madrid-Barcelona AVE along with its home-grown Talgo 350; an upgraded ICE-3, which Siemens is delaying modifications for, is also supposed to start service between Paris and Frankfurt once the high-speed line connecting the two cities is completed.

And, instead of taking delivery and then dealing with 'vendor problems', DB is instead refusing delivery until Seimens fixes the things.

So far, in the US, the only one that forward thinking is the MBTA, though they took five plus years to finally cancel the Type 8 order.

It'd be nice to see another agency in the US do that - 1/2 the reason BBD, etc dump junk on us is because they know they'll get away with it.

The ICE has been suffering from weight issues too, and always did. its significantly heavier than the TGV, even though they both meet the same exact standards. Hence, even the in service ICE trains are restricted in parts of France and other places...

Weight issues? Is 28 tons a significant "weight issue" (difference between ICE-3 and TGV single-deck with 8 cars)...? Certainly not when you contrast Acela Express being 199.5 tons heavier than the TGV and 171.5 tons heavier than the ICE-3...

That are not new news...

The ICE-VT (series 605) is out of service since 2003.


And most of the othner mentioned problems are fixed since 2003...

Nasadowsk wrote:
The ICE has been suffering from weight issues too, and always did. its significantly heavier than the TGV, even though they both meet the same exact standards. Hence, even the in service ICE trains are restricted in parts of France and other places...

This has more an political reason. The ICE-3M could be an competitor to TGV and Thalys, thats the reason SNCF (France) and SNCB (Belgium) doesnt like him and try to make it difficult for the ICE-3 to enter belgian and french HSL.
The ICE ist more confortable than the TGV and the Thalys and he accelerate faster....

In the Netherlands and in Switzerland they dont have any problems with it...

That are not new news

Oh well...I don't write for NationalCorridors.org, so I'm not worried about it. They do need someone to get on them for publishing two-year-old news in their current DF newsletter

Actually, they rewrote the article that first appeared in the "Handelsblatt" financial newspaper.

Sam Damon wrote:Actually, they rewrote the article that first appeared in the "Handelsblatt" financial newspaper.

"Handelsblatt" reported on the controversy between Siemens and DB because of the problems in the start time with the new trains.

The controversy is today, the problems occured in 2000 - 2003....

Also the article in NationalCorridors.org's Destination Freedom newsletter reported about a controversy about the "the on-going difficulties with the ICE-3 high speed EMU".

The ICE-3 entered service in 2000!!!

Seems someone has difficulties to understand the article...

Irish Chieftain wrote:The tilting DMU version, the ICE-VT (top speed 125 mph IIRC), suffered from cracks in its wheel axles and parts of its suspension ("suffered" because they are past-tense—DBAG yanked the trainsets, reportedly capable of 125 mph, out of service and is now trying to sell them, although no buyer has been identified as yet).

Maybe New York could pay Super Steel to refurbish them!