What are the German ICE trains?

Do trains get cancelled often cause of ice ?

• Do trains in the UK get cancelled due to ice, exactly like the ice that is in the south-east at the moment ???

• Answer:

  Some fairly non-expert answers so far. Trains are not often cancelled because of ice alone, but throw in lots of snow and it becomes a different matter. The problem with ice is in areas electrified using 3rd rail, such as South London, Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. Ice can build up on the top of the 3rd rail and prevent the trains from drawing enough power to operate, which was what caused the massive disruption last winter when the South-East was hit by heavy falls of snow. However, this problem is well understood and de-icer trains are run to treat the 3rd rail. Unfortunately, it's not possible to treat the entire 3rd rail network during the course of just a single night. Lines electrified with overhead power lines are not so problematic. Yes ice does build up on the wires, but it's nothing that will affect the service. If the ice is particularly bad and likely to damage a train's pantograph (the arm on top of the train that collects power), then the operator might run an "ice breaker", but conditions seldom get so bad in the UK that this is necessary. This will be an empty electric train that runs specifically to clear the wires of ice. The flexibility of the conductor wire means that ice breaks off easily under normal operating circumstances while the much higher voltage (25000 volts compared to 750 volts for the 3rd rail) ensures that the train gets enough power to operate. Mind you, a build up of ice on the trains themselves could cause cancellations. For example, ice affecting the safe operation of the train doors has an obvious safety impact that means a train cannot run.