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Description
This is something of an insider thing. I heard several people mutter "Why did they put that here? Isn’t that just another plain old ICE 2?" Well, no, it isn’t. The ICE S is perhaps the most interesting train in Germany.

It is the default high-speed testing, measurement and research train of DB Systemtechnik (system technology). In that role, it tests new lines, old lines and new technology. The power heads did come from the ICE 2 production line, but they are modified and have measurement pantographs. They are also connected with a high-voltage line, because the train is too short to have both pantographs up at the same time. Altogether, this is the fastest train active in Germany, having reached 395 kph (245 mph) during truck trials in cooperation with the japanese, and it also is the fastest train in Austria.

Recently, it had been upgraded with even more equipment, as DB Systemtechnik wants to reduce the fleet of measurement trains from 20 to 10, which is probably the reason why it was standing here.

Description
This is something of an insider thing. I heard several people mutter "Why did they put that here? Isn’t that just another plain old ICE 2?" Well, no, it isn’t. The ICE S is perhaps the most interesting train in Germany.

It is the default high-speed testing, measurement and research train of DB Systemtechnik (system technology). In that role, it tests new lines, old lines and new technology. The power heads did come from the ICE 2 production line, but they are modified and have measurement pantographs. They are also connected with a high-voltage line, because the train is too short to have both pantographs up at the same time. Altogether, this is the fastest train active in Germany, having reached 395 kph (245 mph) during truck trials in cooperation with the japanese, and it also is the fastest train in Austria.

Recently, it had been upgraded with even more equipment, as DB Systemtechnik wants to reduce the fleet of measurement trains from 20 to 10, which is probably the reason why it was standing here.