The German industrial giant Siemens has unveiled its next-generation high-speed ICE train 3 at a joint event with rail operator Deutsche Bahn in Frankfurt.

Siemens is building a total of 17 Series 407 ICE trains for Germany’s national rail operator; so far, eight have been delivered, with four more to be handed over by the end of the month.

They will enter passenger service in April, initially on the Cologne-Frankfurt-Stuttgart line. Last December, the ICE 3 was cleared by the German Federal Railway Authority, but testing is still underway in France and Belgium to gain approval for cross-border operation.

Andreas Busemann, head of production at DB (Long Distance), said: “Above all, the new ICE 3 offers our customers a real plus when it comes to service and comfort.

"Passengers can be kept informed about the train’s progress on the new overhead monitors, and comfortably dine in the full-size onboard restaurant with 16 seats, while travelling through Germany at speeds of up to 300kph.

"In addition, the Series 407 offers lower energy consumption and higher technical reliability.”