German rail operator Deutsche Bahn put its fastest-ever trains into service last week, and at the same time announced it’s giving up plastic cups and plates in its food services in favor of porcelain or glass.
The trains, dubbed ICE3neo and built by Siemens, look a lot like the ICE3 trains already running, but can go a bit faster, at 320km/h and boast a host of other new features, including windows that don’t interfere with mobile communications. They also come equipped with storage for eight bicycles and a faster lift for wheelchairs.
Four of the 73 trains ordered have been delivered, and all are to be in service by 2029. The cost runs to about €2.5 billion. DB also has on order ICE4 trains, similarly modern, but slower.
The food service switch applies to ICE and other high-speed services as of January 1. The reusable cups, plates and bowls will be free for passengers to keep or to return to the train’s bistro area. DB didn’t offer a cost comparison with the plastic and cardboard items being phased out, and no word on how DB will wash and reuse, or dispose of those that are returned.
