ICE Ice Baby

Sick and tired of figuring out your place in the speedy-boarders queue?
Or just plain scared of flying?
German rail giant, DB Bahn sends 200mph train into London in a bid to slash journey times and costs to Europe

A 200mph German bullet train crossed under the Channel and rolled into Britain today from the nation most trusted for making its railways run on time.

The high-speed train from Deutsche Bahn was carrying out a slow-speed trial for a new direct cross-channel link between London's St Pancras station and Frankfurt in Germany.



Travelling between the UK and Germany by rail has become an increasingly popular and fast option for a range of travellers. Not only is travelling by train a safe, reliable and comfortable option, it is also environmentally friendly. Always arriving at the city centre, time is saved on unnecessary journeys to and from the airport whilst also avoiding long check-in queues.

What’s more, connections between Germany and the UK are simple and straightforward. Take Eurostar’s international rail link from London St Pancras International or Ebbsfleet to Brussels or Paris from where the ICE waits to whisk you off to major cities in Germany including Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich.

Visitors leaving London can reach the centre of Cologne in just 4.5 hours or Berlin in 9 hours. Prices from London to Cologne start from 49 Euro.

The ICE also operates to cities in some other European countries including Amsterdam, Zurich, Vienna and Copenhagen.

ICE Stats (for trainspotters!)

Train: Inter City Express (ICE) 3, class 407

Power: electric
Pulling power: 11,000 brake horse -power (equivalent to 11 Bugatti Veyrons or 100 Ford Fiestas)
Top speed: 200mph
Total fleet: 15
Cost per train: £33million
Cost of total fleet: £500million
Built by: Siemens- first deliveries 2012.
Passengers: 888 total

Services from St Pancras: Morning, Mid-day and evening services to Amsterdam and Frankfurt, with three return trips a day.

Coaches: Sixteen coaches carrying 888 passengers in two coupled-together trains departing London St Pancras.

Connections to 80 cities in Germany and six other countries: Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark.