THE Inter-City Express 3, a futuristic train developed by German Rail,
will thrill speed freaks who fancy peering out of the front window of a machine
hurtling along at some 300 kilometres per hour. Passengers will sit immediately
behind the driver and enjoy a view through the windscreen.
Instead of being concentrated in a locomotive as in most express trains, the
train’s driving force is distributed throughout every carriage. This frees space
in the front car for passengers who want that special high-velocity experience.
Eliminating a heavy locomotive should also allow the ICE 3 to travel throughout
Europe, even on lines with strict weight limits.
A working prototype of the ICE 3 is currently under construction—the
picture above shows two full-scale models. The train should be in service by the
year 2000.
