ICE 3neo (Germany / International)

ShowMeTheJourney has anticipated what questions are most often asked about travelling on these ICE-3 trains managed by the German national rail operator, DB.

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They typically travel at up to 290 km/h (180 mph) on a high-speed line in Germany, but on the conventional 'classic railway' the maximum speed is 200 km/h (125 mph).

Reservations are now only automatically included in these two scenarios:

• for international journeys over the Germany - Belgium / Netherlands borders from 1 June to 1 September;
• when booking Flexpreis Plus tickets for 1st and 2nd class travel - these are the most expensive types of ticket sold by DB.

When booking any other type of ticket between September 2nd and May 31st, reservations can be added for an additional fee.

Yes, this is typically available when both opting to reserve and in the scenarios when seats are automatically assigned.
If your preferences include seats at tables, or seats in Quiet zones, you will need to use the seating plan.

They are mandatory from 1 June to 1 September for international journeys between Germany and both Belgium and The Netherlands, but they are optional on all other journeys by these trains.

These trains have a bar/bistro service and a restaurant car is also available.

A non-complimentary at-seat catering service of the full menu is available in First class

Yes - it is available free-of-charge in both 1st and 2nd class and the reception has been enhanced on these trains by the use of frequency-permeable glass windowpanes.

Yes and the sockets are compatible with standard EU plugs; Every 1st class seat has socket, but there is one socket per pair of seats in 2nd class.

These trains have 'Quiet zones' in both 1st and 2nd class, though to ensure your seats(s) are either located within or outside of the areas on the train in which mobile calls aren't permitted, it's best to opt to reserve and then use the seating plan.

In addition to hand luggage, one additional larger piece of luggage or item can be taken on board of charge, provided this load can be carried by one person alone.
The luggage racks on the train have been designed to handle a maximum item size of 700 x 500 x 300 mm (height x width x depth).

Yes and they are located within a 2nd class coach by the mobility accessible toilet; these trains also have a lift and a wider door for easier boarding.

Yes, these trains have been fitted with bike racks, but spaces must be reserved prior to boarding.

Small dogs which can be placed in pet-carriers can be taken on board any train as hand luggage and there is no charge for doing so.

Dogs which can't be fitted in carrier/container, because they are larger than a typical domestic cat, require tickets,
So when booking online for a journey by ICE or IC trains with DB, the German national rail operator, add a larger dog as 'a passenger'.
The price charged will be 50% of the adult rate
If you want to travel 1st class you will need a 1st class ticket for the dog.

Compared to the original ICE 3 trains, an opportunity was taken to create more seating space overall, but this meant that the lounges found at either end of the train wouldn't be available on this neo variants.

On these trains the seating is all open-plan, there are no compartments, instead there are additional screens with doors within the seating saloons.
Hence the family zone isn't in a compartment with a door, instead it's in a dedicated space in a 2nd class coach, between sets of screens.

(1) Frankfurt (Main) – Frankfurt Flughafen - Koln Hbf - Aachen – Liege – Bruxelles Nord - Bruxelles Midi/Zuid

(2) Frankfurt (Main) – Frankfurt Flughafen - Koln Hbf – Dusseldorf – Duisburg – Arnhem – Utrecht – Amsterdam

(3) Frankfurt (Main) – Frankfurt Flughafen - Limburg Sud - Montabaur - Seigburg/Bonn - Koln Hbf (-Wuppertal - Dortmund)~

(4) Dortmund - Essen - Dusseldorf - Koln Messe/Deutz - Frankfurt Flughafen - - Mannheim - Stuttgart - Ulm - Augsburg - Munchen

Worth Knowing When Boarding an ICE-3 train:

(1) Aim to be on the platform/track/gleis at the station at least 5 minutes before departure, particularly if you will be joining the train at an intermediate station.
Give yourself time to figure out where you should wait on the gleis (platform/track) prior to boarding.

(2) If you have a reservation before arriving on the gleis (platform/track), check your ticket for the number of the coach in which your reserved seat is located.
Then use the info screens on the gleis, to check in which zone on the gleis you should wait, for easy boarding.

(3) A number ‘1’ and yellow stripes by the doors indicate the location of 1st class, while a ‘2’ indicates second class.
They can be hard to spot on a fast arriving train.

(4) On the doors are electronic indicators which show the destination of the train and the main stations it will be calling at.

(5) If you haven't reserved seats, a less obvious aspect of travelling by ICE 3 trains is that they have 'Quiet' and 'Phone' zones'
So look out for the signs on the exterior and interior of the trains indicating whether a particular coach has these zones.
You can then either target or avoid seats in these areas.

(6) The doors won’t open automatically so you may have to press the green button.

The seat numbers are both on the side of the seats facing the aisle and on a strip above the windows

These smaller numbers on the strip above the windows have a traffic light system

• Green = available for the entire journey
• Blue = reserved for part of the journey
• Red = reserved for the entire journey
  When a seat is reserved, the locations between which it has been booked will be shown.

These trains have multiple luggage storage locations which vary between the coaches, there are shelves by the doors, racks in the seating areas, space above and between seats.

Info Screens

There are electronic info screens in each coach which will feature info about the journey.
They can be found on ceilings and end walls in the seating saloons and in the vestibules by the doors.

They have in effect replaced the paper info booklets which used to be left on the seats for each journey, as the screens switch between:

• showing the station calls, with both the scheduled time and the actual expected arrival time
• Summaries of the connections available at the next station call - with departure times and track numbers
• The current location of the train
  So look out for the changes of info.

There is no trolley catering service on ICE trains.
If you are travelling 1st or 2nd class you can opt to purchase hot/cold food and drink from the bar/bistro car and then either consume it in the bistro car or bring it back to your seat.

Travelling 1st class:

An attendant will also pass through 1st class taking orders for food and drink to be delivered to your seat – try to avoid confusing them with the conductor who will check the tickets etc.
Be aware that you will be charged for all items that you order at your seat.

If you’re travelling 1st class and are particularly thirsty/hungry, don’t wait for the catering attendant to make their round, go to the bar counter and order in person.