DB Class 403
Encyclopedia
The DB Class 403 was a series of three electric multiple unit
s commissioned by the Deutsche Bundesbahn
in the 1970s, an early predecessor of the Intercity-Express as a high-speed train
. The units were mainly used for InterCity
services and again by the Lufthansa
airline in the 1980s. Due to their distinct design of the front section, they were nicknamed "Donald Duck". They were designed for operation speeds of up to 220 km/h, a speed which was also attained in extensive test drives, but they were limited to 200 km/h in regular DB service.
service in the 1974/1975 schedule, mainly on the line between Bremen
and Munich
. Due to the lack of suitable high-speed tracks the trains were barely able to reach their maximum velocity and soon were found prohibitive and impractical. They were removed from IC services in 1979 and replaced by Class 111
locomotives, when the IC' 79 scheme introduced the 2nd class on previously 1st class-only IC services.
and Frankfurt
along the picturesque West Rhine Railway via Bonn Hauptbahnhof
. Usage ended in 1993 due to increasing corrosion of the aluminium
sheets. All trains were finally sold by the Deutsche Bahn in 2001 and have fallen into disrepair. The technical concept of separately driven cars was resumed in the design of the ICE 3
, also classified as Class 403.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s commissioned by the Deutsche Bundesbahn
Deutsche Bundesbahn
The Deutsche Bundesbahn or DB was formed as the state railway of the newly established Federal Republic of Germany on September 7, 1949 as a successor of the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft '...
in the 1970s, an early predecessor of the Intercity-Express as a high-speed train
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
. The units were mainly used for InterCity
Intercity (Deutsche Bahn)
Intercity is the second-highest train classification in Germany, after the ICE. Intercity services are loco-hauled express services, usually over long-distances. There are Intercity routes throughout Germany, and routes generally operate with a two-hour frequency, with multiple routes giving a more...
services and again by the Lufthansa
Lufthansa
Deutsche Lufthansa AG is the flag carrier of Germany and the largest airline in Europe in terms of overall passengers carried. The name of the company is derived from Luft , and Hansa .The airline is the world's fourth-largest airline in terms of overall passengers carried, operating...
airline in the 1980s. Due to their distinct design of the front section, they were nicknamed "Donald Duck". They were designed for operation speeds of up to 220 km/h, a speed which was also attained in extensive test drives, but they were limited to 200 km/h in regular DB service.
InterCity
The first train was handed over to DB on March 2, 1973 and the class composed of four separately driven cars saw its first use as an InterCityIntercity (Deutsche Bahn)
Intercity is the second-highest train classification in Germany, after the ICE. Intercity services are loco-hauled express services, usually over long-distances. There are Intercity routes throughout Germany, and routes generally operate with a two-hour frequency, with multiple routes giving a more...
service in the 1974/1975 schedule, mainly on the line between Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Due to the lack of suitable high-speed tracks the trains were barely able to reach their maximum velocity and soon were found prohibitive and impractical. They were removed from IC services in 1979 and replaced by Class 111
DB Class 111
The Baureihe 111 is a class of electric locomotives built for the Deutsche Bundesbahn, and now owned by Deutsche Bahn AG.- History :Class 111 is the successor of the Class 110 express Einheitslokomotive...
locomotives, when the IC
Lufthansa Airport Express
In 1982 the ET 403 were recommissioned as the Lufthansa Airport Express, a shuttle service connecting the airports of DüsseldorfDüsseldorf International Airport
Düsseldorf International Airport is the largest airport in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and the third largest airport in Germany, handling 18.99 million passengers in 2010....
and Frankfurt
Frankfurt Airport
Frankfurt Airport may refer to:Airports of Frankfurt, Germany:*Frankfurt Airport , the largest airport in Germany*Frankfurt Egelsbach Airport, a general aviation airport*Frankfurt-Hahn Airport , a converted U.S...
along the picturesque West Rhine Railway via Bonn Hauptbahnhof
Bonn Hauptbahnhof
is a railway station located on the left bank of the Rhine along the Cologne–Mainz line. It is the principal station serving the city of Bonn. In addition to extensive rail service from Deutsche Bahn it acts as a hub for local bus, tram, and Stadtbahn services....
. Usage ended in 1993 due to increasing corrosion of the aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
sheets. All trains were finally sold by the Deutsche Bahn in 2001 and have fallen into disrepair. The technical concept of separately driven cars was resumed in the design of the ICE 3
ICE 3
ICE 3 is a family of high-speed EMUs of Deutsche Bahn. It includes classes 403 and 406, which are known as ICE 3 and ICE 3M respectively...
, also classified as Class 403.