Dear N Scale Customers:

Limited Quantities Available!

Coming in late February/Early March 2020 and available in a limited 100 piece run, Kato USA will be distributing the new N Scale ICE4 Bullet Train with ZIMO Sound pre-installed! This set will be available as the train’s full 12-Unit consist, with decoders in both motorized cars and lighting decoders in each end-car (four decoders in total).

You can see and hear the ICE4 with DCC in motion at Kato USA’s youtube channel, accessible by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/user/KatoUSAinc

The ICE 4 is a brand name for long-distance Intercity-Express high-speed trains being procured for Deutsche Bahn.

Procurement started around 2008 for replacements for locomotive-hauled InterCity and EuroCity train services, and was later expanded to include replacements for ICE 1 and ICE 2 high-speed trainsets. In 2011 Siemens Mobility was awarded the contract for 130 seven-car intercity train replacements, and 90 ten-car ICE train replacements, plus further options – the contract for the ten-car sets was modified 2013 to expand the trainset length to twelve vehicles. The name ICx was used for the trains during the initial stages of the procurement; in late 2015 the trains were rebranded 'ICE 4', at the unveiling of the first trainset, and given the class designation 412 by Deutsche Bahn.

Two pre-production trainsets have been manufactured by 2016, and were used for testing later that year, prior to introduction of the main series in late 2017.

Around 2008 Deutsche Bahn began the tendering process to replace locomotive/coach trainsets on its long distance subsidiary, DB Fernverkehr's, InterCity and EuroCity train services. The initial announcement suggested that the tender would be for 100 to 130 trainsets. No specific train type was specified and DB did not intend to become involved with the design process - both locomotive-hauled trains such as Railjet or variations on the ICE 3 EMU design were considered to be options. The new trains were to be branded ICX and were expected to be similar in aesthetic design to the ICE3 trains; the design speed was expected to be in the 200 to 250 kilometres per hour (120 to 160 mph) range and to improve upon the energy efficiency of the units it replaced.

The scope of the procurement was later expanded to include replacements for the ICE 1 and ICE 2 trains with a top speed of up to 280 kilometres per hour (170 mph), and the size of the order increased to up to 300 trains. Bids were received from Alstom and Siemens, with the Siemens bid including Bombardier Transportation as a subcontractor. Initial bids made in 2009 were said to be too high by DB, being over €5 billion. In 2010, DB announced that Siemens had been chosen as the preferred bidder for the procurement scheme,  and on 9 May 2011 DB and Siemens signed a contract for 130 ICx trains, plus a further 90 trainsets to be formalised at a later date, with an option for a further 80 sets. The trains were to be delivered by 2030, with the value of the 220 train deal estimated at around €6 billion. Siemens' share of the contract for the intercity sets was later reported as being worth €3.7 billion to the company, reported to be the "biggest order in the company's history".

There is NO Guaranteed Reservation they are 1st come 1st served. This is the first time they are made with DCC & Sound. If you want your set you need to order them today!