ICx

ICE 4
Front of an ICE4 with 12 cars
Manufacturer	Siemens, Bombardier as subcontractor
Number built	220 trainsets ordered (80 on option)
Formation	K1n: 7 cars (3M, 4T) K3s: 12 cars (6M, 6T)
Capacity	499 (K1n) 724 (K3s, 10-car) 830 (K3, 12-car)
Operator(s)	Deutsche Bahn
Specifications
Car length	Driving car: 28.6 m (93 ft 10 in) Intermediate car: 27.9 m (91 ft 6 3⁄8 in)
Width	2,642 to 2,852 mm (8 ft 8 in to 9 ft 4 1⁄4 in) (internal/external)
Platform height	550 to 760 mm (21.7 to 29.9 in) ARL
Maximum speed	K1n: 230 km/h (140 mph) K3s: 250 km/h (160 mph)
Weight	K1n: 455 t (448 long tons; 502 short tons) K3s: 659 t (649 long tons; 726 short tons)
Power output	K1n: 4,950 kW (6,640 hp) K3s: 8,250 kW (11,060 hp) K3 (12-car): 9,900 kW (13,300 hp)
Acceleration	K1n 0.55 m/s2 (1.8 ft/s2) K3s 0.53 m/s2 (1.7 ft/s2)
Electric system(s)	15 kV, 16.7 Hz Overhead line
Current collection method	Pantograph
UIC classification	K1n:: 2'2'+Bo'Bo'+2'2'+Bo'Bo'+Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2' K3s: 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′
Safety system(s)	ETCS, LZB, PZB
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes
Sources: Specifications except where noted

ICE 4 is a brand name for long-distance Intercity-Express high-speed trains being procured by Deutsche Bahn.

Procurement started around 2008 for replacements for locomotive-hauled InterCity and EuroCity train services, and was later expanded to include replacements for ICE 1 and ICE 2 high-speed trainsets. In 2011 Siemens AG was awarded the contract for 130 seven-car intercity train replacements, and 90 ten-car ICE train replacements, plus further options – the contract for the ten-car sets was modified 2013 to expand the trainset length to twelve vehicles. The name ICx was used for the trains during the initial stages of the procurement; in late 2015 the trains were rebranded 'ICE 4', at the unveiling of the first trainset, and given the class designation 412 by Deutsche Bahn.

Two pre-production trainsets are expected to be manufactured by 2016, and used for testing prior to introduction of the main series.

Around 2008 Deutsche Bahn began proceedings for tendering for trainsets for its long distance subsidiary DB Fernverkehr, to replace locomotive/coach formations on its InterCity and EuroCity train services - the initial announcement suggested that the tender would be for 100 to 130 trainsets. No specific train type was specified and DB did not intend to become involved with the design process - both locomotive hauled trains such as Railjet or variations on the ICE 3 EMU design were considered to be options. The new trains were to be branded ICX and were expected to be similar in aesthetic design to the ICE3 trains; the design speed was expected to be in the range 200 to 250 kilometres per hour (120 to 160 mph), and improve upon the energy efficiency of the units it replaced.

The scope of the procurement was later expanded to include replacements for the ICE 1 and ICE 2 trains, with a consequent top speed of up to 280 kilometres per hour (170 mph), with the size of the order increasing to up to 300 trains. Bids were received from Alstom and Siemens, with the Siemens bid including Bombardier Transportation as a subcontractor. Initial offers given in 2009 were said to be too high by DB, being over €5 billion - in 2010 DB announced that Siemens had been chosen as the preferred bidder for the procurement scheme, and on 9 May 2011 DB and Siemens signed a contract for 130 ICx trains, plus a further 90 trainsets to be formalised at a later date, with an option for a further 80 sets. The trains were to be supplied by 2030, with the value of the 220 train deal estimated at around €6 billion. Siemens' share of the contract for the intercity sets was later reported as being worth €3.7 billion to the company, reported to be the "biggest order in the company's history".