The inaugural journeys of the new high-speed rail service from Germany to Paris took place on Friday 25 May 2007.

Trains departed simultaneously at 08.30 from Stuttgart and Frankfurt to arrive at the same time – 12.39 – in Paris.

SNCF President Anne-Marie Idrac and DB's chairman Hartmut Mehdorn launched the new services.

Scheduled services, using both French TGVs and German ICEs at speeds of up to 200mph, start on 10 June 2007. The full service will follow in December.

"Europe's leading railways are bundling their strengths for the first time," said Mr Mehdorn. "This will strengthen the competitiveness of the railways on key international routes. Rail can look forward to a bright future in Europe.

"With the creation of this joint venture between SNCF and DB, we will both gain new customers and more than double traffic between France and Germany."

Anne-Marie Idrac added: "We are sharing the best of our products: TGV and ICE, thus offering competitive travel times, a quality service and attractive prices."

To meet the special requirements of the French network, numerous technical modifications had to be carried out to the ICE over a four-year period.

The number of modifications to the train have been time-consuming and expensive. They have focused on the control system of the electronic brake, the passage of pantographs through neutral sections in the catenary, the control system for the doors, aerodynamic modifications in the underfloor section to eliminate flying ballast, and the sophisticated technology of the French train control systems.

DB and SNCF have set up a new joint venture company with registered offices in Saarbrücken to market the new high-speed services.

Tickets for the ICE as well as the TGV from and to Paris can be booked through the Deutsche Bahn UK Booking Centre.
Telephone: 08718 80 80 66 (8p per minute). Internet: www.bahn.co.uk

Information from DB