as ICE 3, that would eventually evolve into the Velaro family. This initial batch of ICE-3 trainsets was built by a consortium with Bombardier, and first delivered for service in 1999. A version based on this train without Bombardier patents was developed by Siemens and has been marketed as Velaro since. Velaro derivatives have been introduced in Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Russia, and Turkey.

In July 2006, a Siemens Velaro train-set (AVE