Capital Cost and Operations of High‐speed Mail System in West Germany

Abstract

The situation of the present Intercity system of the German Federal Railroad is described. The current construction of new lines, and the future highspeed InterCity Express system, which will increase operating speeds up to 300 km/h (186 mph), are shown, as well as the influence of the new system on the economics of operation and maintenance. The existing InterCity system is earning a cost coverage of 109%. It is therefore the most successful segment of all the transportation services the German Federal Railroad offers. The InterCity system is operated by a locomotive hauling a different number of first‐class and secondclass passenger cars, depending on the specific line. Analyzing that the business lifetime of this system will be reached in some years the German Federal Railroad will introduce a new high speed railroad service, starting in 1991. This high‐speed Inter City Express system is the result of fundamental research and development work in the last 15 years. This system is an electrically propelled, push‐pull, multiple‐unit train, which provides new interior design and flexibility, to meet the passengers needs of the future. This service is expected to be the economic backbone of the railroad in Germany for the coming decades.