Be aware: no power points in some ICE trains
 

First of all I have to confess that I don't travel with trains that often. I had two train rides this weekend both in Germany with ICE trains in First class. At my first trip the train was a pretty new ICE (model T at least this was what the attendent told me). I was impressed by the wonderful cabin layout. ^ Leather seats, great tables to do some work, good service and power points for my notebook at every seat. On my way back some days later I didn't ensured to charge the battery of my notebook as I thought that there would be power points again. But this time I was on a pretty old and shabby ICE (model 1) without a single power point in the hole train, at least not for public use. :td: So I couldn't really work and could do nothing else than read a newspaper. I was not aware that the DB still run some of their premium trains without power points. Quite strange isn't it?

Cheers
totti

I have run into this as well (seemingly on trains that travel between regional cities. A couple of years ago my nonstop train out of Erfurt was cancelled, and a different train was substituted (which did not go on to Hannover, necessitating a change). The seating on the substitute train was quite worn, and as above, there were no ports in either 1. or 2. class.

So charge your battery in advance, and the problem is solved.

Deutsche Bahn has an online contact form to fill out at: http://www.bahn.de/-S:PtVORd:eU3sNdN...endialog.shtml

Please note that this is the "riffraff" form for those without a "Bahncard" or the top tier "Bahn Comfort" customers. There are separate forms for those two other groups.

And I do find it a pity that DB doesn't pay enough attention to detail on their premium product. First class in the newer ICEs is a pleasure. ^

Actually it happend to me on one of their main routes (Berlin-Frankfurt). This was what me surprised most, as I thought they would use better trains then.

Thanks for this advise :rolleyes: As you can imagine I'd have done this if I'd have known before! Is there any way to find out which type of ICE they'll use under a specific train-number? Just checked their website but could find anything about this. Are the guys from DB ticketing able to see what type of ICE it will be?

BTW the problem is not really solved with a charged battery. If you run programs like lets say Photoshop one battery probably won't be enough on a 4+ hour ride. I still have to batteries for my Mac but even this can be way to short if I really work.

Thank you for this information. @:-) I will try it and will inform you later what they respond.

Second this. ^

Yes - the second benefit of power ports in planes and trains is that it allows you to charge the batteries as you work. If you have a three-hour journey, for example, you arrive at your destination with a fully charged battery, instead of a depleted one. In my case, because I use an iGo Juice with the phone/PDA extension, I can charge my laptop, my cell phone, my bluetooth headset and my PDA in the span of those three hours.

Don't agree - to be seated for hours in an open saloon car (=Großraumwagen) with 80 or more noisy self-important businessmen on their cellphones for hours is the last thing I need on a Friday evening after a busy week in the office. The older ICE (ICE-1) and the fast ICE-3 habe at least the advantage of 6-seat-quiet-compartments; the newest ones (ICE-T and ICE-T2, but also the ICE-2) haven't.

But back to the topic: You can see the type of trains by train-number on this private site:
www.fernbahn.de -> " Wagenreihungen DB-Fahrplan 2006"

The older ICE-1-train sets are actually receiving power points (and leather seats in 1st class) in all coaches, but on the same overhauls the Audio/Video-Program are being removed, what's a big disadvantage for my travel habits...

Patrick

Yes I noticed this the painful way on my exodus from FRA.
First ICE was beautiful newish and had power ponts all over the place.
Even prototype radio Internet was on that train.
Then half an hour later I had to change to a thing that they refered to as
ICE as well but had no similarity with the train I just got used to :( .

Same on the Swiss railway system - still have not figure out how to make
sure to be on a new double decker car with in seat power instead of ending
up on a pre WWI hog.

Well, my longhaul train travel in Europe is almost exclusively on the Cologne - Amsterdam/Brussels/Frankfurt/Paris routes so it's all ICE 3 or the odd Thalys then. :) Is it only the ICE 3 that has those small first compartments behind the train driver cabin?

I was in some kind of sleeper section. There were signs all over the place not to use cell phones. It was a small cabin direct behind the driver and we were to only passengers in this section. Probably this is the reason why I could enjoy the trip and got some work done. On my way back I was sitting in such a compartment you mentioned. The seats were a bit shaby but with only 5 seats it was quite spacious. If they only had power points :rolleyes:


Thanks for the URL. Will check it next time I will use a train.

So it was not only a painful LH experience but also a painful DB one. You really need a bit of flysurfers mojo, don't you? :)

No, all ICE-T-series have this as well.

@weero: Usually all IC-trains in Switzerland (which don't cross the border!) are either double-decker or "push-pull-train sets" with a business-compartment in the coach next to the locomotive. ICN-trains have power-points as well.

You really need to have bad luck to travel on an old train replacing an Intercity ;)

Patrick

I could use Flymaster's mojo but the train ride was fine. I just pestered my
sofa neighbour in the train who works in a related field.
Any chance to act as a backseat driver then? I reckon the signs are there so
people do not interfere with the pilot/driver or whatever one calls an ICE3
astronaut.