German IC: What to expect

[starrymarkb]

In June I'll be getting an IC service from Leipzig to Berlin in Standard; What should I expect? Normally I get the ICE but trains after the Pfingsten (Pentecost) Holiday weekend are busy so there were no cheap seats unless I left very early in the Morning!

I found Swiss (ICN and IC2000) and Dutch (older DD EMU) IC stock rather basic compared with their UK equivalents.

 

[317666]

There are a few different types of InterCity coach in use with DB, if you know your train number you can match it up according to these train formations: http://www.grahnert.de/fernbahn/reihung/reih0040.html

The main two types you will find: 'Bpmz' etc coaches are air-conditioned with 2+2 seating, mix of tables and airline seating. 'Bimz' etc coaches are not air-conditioned, with a strange mix of 3+0 airline and group seating, and a few compartments at either end of the coach. Coaches or trains marked 'IC mod' are Bpmz coaches that have been refurbished with ICE-standard interiors.

Bpmz (unrefurbished): http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Bpmz_interior.jpg/1024px-DB_Bpmz_interior.jpg

Bimz: http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/car/IC+IR/Bim-Bimz/interior/110226-34.jpg

 

[starrymarkb]

Thanks

I'm on IC2208 on the Tuesday after Pfingsten

I think I might aim for the Bpmz if I can, the Bimz looks very odd.

Services leaving Leipzig on that Tuesday are often strengthened going on previous years Full of bloody Goths

 

[30907]

Both types I find perfectly comfortable, and a Bimz is certainly quirky, but if the train is crowded the conventional "open second" is the better option.

I would have thought IC2208 might run in its Monday (ie "day after holiday") formation on Whit Tuesday with the extra Bimz attached, as IC formations are flexible by modern standards - depends what the diagram is a bit!

 

[Gordon]

All DB stock is decently comfortable IMO.

Some interiors here:

Bimz
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/car/IC+IR/Bim-Bimz/interior/pix.html


Bpmz

http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/de/car/IC+IR/Bpmz-Bpmbz-Bpmdz/interior/pix.html





.

 

[gordonthemoron]

The IC Bordbistro (not seen any Bordrestaurant) can be odd to say the least, and some IC services have none

 

[eastwestdivide]

For reference, there's another site that lists a lot of train compositions, Europe-wide, at http://www.vagonweb.cz/razeni/
but your IC2208 isn't listed there.
This individual listings illustrate the coach types too with photos if you're lucky.
Bimz at http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/D/DB_Bimz.php
Bpmz at http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/D/DB_Bpmz.php

 

[dutchflyer]

Bimz are former InterRegio coaches-that was named ''family landscape''.
They are now mainly used as extra on busy days or for some overnight trains out of the CNL-network.
For DB/Germany, the age of the coach says very, very little about the comfort. Its more when the interior got its last upgrade. Bpmz that were renovated and got the ICE-style seats were all redone the last 2 years-many just last month or so. But its a ride of less as 2 hrs.
Beside DB there are 2 daily trains by a private operator (formerly Connex)-that has fares from 12 or 14 eur/single.

 

[gordonthemoron]

what's happening with the new double decker IC stock?

 

[30907]

Running at least a year late - deliveries from second half of 2015.

 

[jopsuk]

is there a guide to what the german coach designations stand for? I'm guessing that first letter "B" is Standard/Second class, and "A" is 1st class.

 

[MCR247]

Running at least a year late - deliveries from second half of 2015.

Is it Siemens thats building them?

 

[starrymarkb]

Bombardier IIRC

 

[Gordon]

is there a guide to what the german coach designations stand for? I'm guessing that first letter "B" is Standard/Second class, and "A" is 1st class.

UIC standard codes, but not actually standard as different railways sometimes use different variations

Reasonable resume in wikipedia (though not exhaustive as only cites DB and OBB):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UIC_classification_of_railway_coaches




.

 

[30907]

is there a guide to what the german coach designations stand for? I'm guessing that first letter "B" is Standard/Second class, and "A" is 1st class.

Extensive list here, if you can read or guess German
http://www.drehscheibe-online.de/ds_cms/wrapper.php?ref=http://www.bahnseite.de/purespace/Abkuerzungen.html

 

[sarahj]

THe best coach is the Bvmz. Built in the late 80's it has a mix of open and semi compartment. Even has single seats. One of the most roomiest 2nd class coaches I've ever been on. they only built about 180 of them compared to over 500 bpmz's, but you sometimes find them on on many original IC's.

For another type, the seats in the driving trailers look to be quite decent as well.

I say original IC's and there are two types of IC's. One type is the ones based on the classic routes, the other is the IC's that run like the old IR's.

 

[starrymarkb]

I had an overcrowded Bpmz, and given the temperatures over there this week I was glad of the Aircon.

Mind you it was better then the previous ICE-T departure which apparently was rammed despite being doubled for the exodus and was running with an aircon failure! (I ran into someone I knew at Tegal who'd been on it!

 

[gordonthemoron]

I noticed somewhere on t'internet (maybe DB website) that the new double decker IC won't have a Bordbistro or Bordrestaurant, just a trolley How they get it up and down stairs is a mystery

 

[eastwestdivide]

The German Wikipedia page at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Twindexx#Doppelstock-Intercity says at-seat service and no catering vehicle on the IC Twindexx doubledeckers:

Ein Speisewagen ist nicht vorgesehen; es soll ein gastronomisches Angebot am Platz geben

but quotes no source for the info. However, I did find this story http://www.fr-online.de/mobilitaet/...tock-ic-ohne-speisewagen,1473636,5296356.html from Frankfurter Rundschau saying basically the same thing

Das gastronomische Angebot ist durch ein mobiles Service-Konzept gewährleistet: Die Bedienung der Gäste findet im ganzen Zug direkt am Platz statt – in der 1. wie in der 2. Klasse.

i.e. mobile service at seats in both classes.

 

[gordonthemoron]

they must have got the idea from XC

 

[duesselmartin]

I hope the Twindexx are more spacious than the RE version. Its a mystery to me why they are running late as that type of coach is already common on regional services and therefore specifications are not that different.

 

[gordonthemoron]

don't they have a higher top speed than Regio Doppelstock? Aren't the IC Doppelstock to also replace some ICE services (e.g. ICE1/2)?

 

[317666]

The coaches will have a top speed of 185km/h, although they won't run faster than 160km/h due to that being the top speed of the 146.5 locos they'll work with.

The ICE-1s and 2s (as well as many of the current hauled IC services) are to be replaced by the new ICx units: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICx

 

[gordonthemoron]

The wiki link contradicts the top speed and also says that there will be a restaurant and bistro car which now seems to be not the case