ICE TD
DBAG Class 605 | |
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standard gauge |
The DBAG Class 605, commonly known as the ICE TD is a high-speed diesel multiple unit (DMU) train, formerly in service with Deutsche Bahn and DSB.
History
Development
Following the successful inauguration of the
Later, Deutsche Bahn also saw the need for a similar new train on its non-electrified routes, and started the ICT-VT project, with "VT" standing for Verbrennungstriebwagen (internal combustion motor car).
Deutsche Bahn pursued the development of the
designs, the new units were planned not with powerheads, but with peripheral underfloor motors, in order to reduce axle load (quite important for tilting trains) and increase tractive effort.For the ICT-VT, a four-car configuration was chosen, without a restaurant car, otherwise, Deutsche Bahn aimed for a common appearance and the greatest possible technical commonality with the IC T. Even the possibility of coupling together an electric and diesel train and operate them jointly was to be provided.
Production
In 1996, Deutsche Bahn placed an order for 20 diesel multiple units with a consortium led by Siemens.
As for the ICE T, DWA (Bombardier) produced the end cars and Siemens produced the middle cars. The ICE TD was fitted with an electro-mechanic tilting actuator system developed by Siemens, rather than the Fiat (Alstom) Pendolino hydraulic system used in the ICE T. Also, the secondary suspension between bogie and carbody is air springs rather than metal coils for higher ride comfort.[2] A characteristic element of the Siemens system visible on the outside is the crescent-shaped top of the outer carbody supports (above the bogie center).
The tilting system also left room for electric motors on both axles in a bogie, thus every car of the
The first train was assembled in 1998, trials on track started in April 1999. During a test run on 13 January 2000 with train set 5502, 222 km/h (138 mph) was achieved.[2]
Shortly before the first IC T entered service in 1999, the names of the electric and diesel trains were changed to ICE T and ICE TD respectively, with "T" now standing either for the English word tilt(ing) or the German Triebzug (trainset, trains with underfloor-engines as opposed to the older ICEs which consisted of carriages coupled between locomotives), and "TD" for tilt(ing) / trainset diesel.
Operations
In 2001, all 20 units were commissioned for Deutsche Bahn, who took them as class 605. After pilot runs, the trains entered regular service on the new ICE line 17 between
The service life of the class 605 was rather ill-fated. The ICE TD units were plagued by technical problems from the start. After the breaking of an axle on 2 December 2002, all remaining 19 units (one fell off a working platform during maintenance) were grounded. Even though one year later the trains were admitted to service again, DB judged their operation to be overly expensive. DB must pay full diesel tax for the fuel.
The trains were re-activated for a short time in anticipation of extra traffic during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. From 2006, they were used for charter and relief trains.
From the end of 2007, the class 605 was used in regular service on the
On 11 December 2016, most class 605 trainsets were taken out of service. DB did not want to invest in the necessary major overhaul procedure where all components are checked and replaced if needed. DSB was offered the opportunity to buy the trainsets, but declined to do so.[4] The trains suffered from overall high maintenance and operation costs.[5] The Vogelfluglinie between Hamburg and Copenhagen continues to be operated with Danish IC3 trainsets as well as the Aarhus-Hamburg route, however both with fewer departures. One single remaining ICE TD trainset was operated on the Hamburg-Copenhagen route until 1 October 2017 and then also retired.[6][unreliable source?]
605 017 entered non-passenger service as a test train in February 2019, 605 019 followed in August 2021.[7] Named Advanced TrainLab, the trains serve as a testbed for new technologies.[7]
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An ICE TD aboard a ferry between Puttgarden and Rødby, August 2012
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An ICE TD in DSB livery, seen in November 2014
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advanced TrainLab at Nuremberg main station in November 2018
Routes
Former routes
ICE TD trainsets were used on the following routes:[8]
- Hamburg – Lübeck – Puttgarden – Rødby – Copenhagen (served December 2007 – September 2017)
- Nuremberg – Bayreuth – Chemnitz – Dresden (served June 2001 – December 2003; first replaced by Intercity and then Regional-Express trains)[8]
- Munich – Lindau – Zürich (served June 2001 – December 2003; replaced by EuroCity trains)
- (Berlin –) Hamburg – Flensburg – Aarhus (served December 2007 – December 2016; replaced by IC3 trainsets)
See also
- List of high speed trains
- Description of the Intercity-Express system in Germany
- Abstract on tilting trains in Germany
- ICE T: the electric sister classes
- Intercity Express
References
- ^ Dellner Couplers AB – Automatic and Semi-Permanent Couplers
- ^ a b c "ICE-TD" (in German). hochgeschwindigkeitszuege.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
- Danske Statsbaner. 14 October 2008. Archived from the originalon 29 May 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
- ^ Kurpjuweit, Klaus (15 June 2015). "Direktverbindung nach Dänemark droht das Aus" [Direct service to Denmark threatened with closure]. Der Tagesspiegel (in German). Archived from the original on 1 October 2020.
- ^ Fender, Keith (1 June 2015). "DSB to withdraw ICE-TDs as DB terminates lease". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018.
- ^ "ICE-TD nach Kopenhagen". community.bahn.de (in German). Archived from the original on 18 November 2018.
- ^ a b Martin, Ulrike (4 April 2019). "Laborzug absolviert Testfahrt auf der alten Stammbahntrasse" [Laboratory train completed test run on old Stammbahn tracks]. Berliner Woche (in German). FUNKE Berlin Wochenblatt. Archived from the original on 12 March 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ a b hochgeschwindigkeitszuege.com - ICE-TD der Deutschen Bahn AG (German) retrieved 1 November 2016
External links
Media related to ICE TD at Wikimedia Commons