the wheel
The original specification for wheels for the ICE 1 sets called for monobloc wheels. However the vibration and noise that was transmitted via the steel suspension units into the passenger spaces was deemed to be unacceptable. A solution was found by providing a wheel with a composite construction which includes a rubber strip between the "tyre" and the "hub". This strip reduces the vibration. Wheels such as this are relatively common on light railway/rapid transit vehicles, but are unique to ICE 1s in high speed trains. The wheels have however served their purpose well and without incident since their introduction. The wheels are inspected regularly although their has been some discussion about the difficulties of such inspections and considerable debate about the method that should be employed and the frequency with which they take place.
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