current composition: ICE S is Deutsche Bahn's train for high-speed tests.

The letter "S" abbreviates the German expression Schnellfahrt, which translates into high speed run.

The train was originally used to test components during the development of the ICE 3 in the mid-1990s.

The train consists of two motor units (derived from the ICE 2) and three coaches with test equipment.

The main visible differences to normal ICE 2 trainsets are the special design and the three pantographs of the coaches.