Germany, HSR Long-Distance Rail, ICE Fernverkehr (vision)

To-Do: - E: N-/M-R-Plzn-PRG? ICE Sprinter Sprinter services form the backbone of Germany’s high-speed rail network, linking the country’s major metropolitan regions—Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, and the Rhine-Ruhr area (via Dortmund, Essen, and Düsseldorf). They feature varying stopping patterns, including both non-stop and limited-stop services at key interchange cities such as Hanover, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Leipzig. Operating primarily on dedicated high-speed lines, ICE Sprinter trains represent the fastest and most direct connections within the national network, serving as the premium layer of long-distance rail travel in Germany. ICE The InterCity-Express network complements Sprinter services by providing additional high-speed connections along the core network and alternative routes through further regional centers. ICE routes balance network coverage and travel time efficiency, ensuring integration of metropolitan areas and state capitals into the broader long-distance system. IC InterCity services form an intermediate layer within the long-distance network, linking larger cities and regions not directly served by ICE routes. They often traverse secondary corridors, closing remaining gaps in national rail coverage. Some IC lines also serve touristic or less densely populated regions, maintaining long-distance accessibility beyond the high-speed grid. Euro-ICE The Euro-ICE network extends Germany’s high-speed system into a truly European dimension. These international services—distinct from conventional EuroCity (EC) trains—connect the German ICE core network with major cities across neighboring countries, including Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna, Prague, Copenhagen, and Warsaw.