Every German knows the ICE. That's according to ICE operator Deutsche Bahn, which claims the ICE brand has a 100 percent recognition rate. The high-speed train is Deutsche Bahn's flagship, although it accounts for only 8 to 10 percent of the railway's total revenues.

A new ICE 4, at its unveiling in Berlin in December 2015, as an ICE 3 races past. The new model is expected to run within test operations starting in autumn this year, and have its place on the normal train timetable in 2017. The ICE 4 is close to 350 meters (382 yards) long and seats 830 passengers.

The Trans Europ Express was the standard for fast trains which ran from 1957 to 1987 across what was then the European Economic Community (EWG) - a precursor to the European Union. These trains only had first-class wagons. The photo features the legendary TEE train, also called the "Rheingold".

A glimpse into the interiors of the TEE "Rheingold" - a luxury train of the 1960s, where a carriage with a bar was a prominent feature. Today's train enthusiasts can still enjoy the atmosphere here - travel agencies offer special tours with the TEE, and with them a taste of past glitz and glamor.

In the 1930s, the German Reichsbahn had a strong preference for diesel rail cars. Fast train connections were in a race with private cars and airplanes for high-speed dominance. In 1933, "flying trains" were introduced, cutting down significantly on travel time. The first high-speed rail network was established - the foundation of today's ICE network.

As early as 1903, the first tests in the high-speed transport sector were being carried out by a well-known research association for electric high speed rail networks. A three-phase express rail car reached peak speeds of 210 km/h on a test rail in Berlin. But it was only after the first world war that high-speed rail cars were further developed.

The fastest of all trains based on conventional rail technology is France's TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse). It's been around since 1981. The newest version, the AGV, reached a speed of 574 km/h (356 mph) in 2007, compared to its normal operating speed of 320 km/h. TGV trains can be found in Germany, Belgium, the UK, Switzerland, and Italy.

The Velaro train model, also produced by ICE maker Siemens - doesn't have locomotive engines anymore, but motor units. The fastest Velaro train runs regularly in China - the Harmony CHR 380A. During a test run in 2010, the train managed a speed of 486 km/h. Today, it runs between Beijing and Shanghai at an operating speed of 380 km/h.

Even before the French, Japanese engineers developed a high speed train - the Shinkansen. An early model of this train ran at speeds of 210 km/h during the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The newest model, like the one pictured here, runs at a maximum speed of 320 km/h.

The Hyperloop is a conceptual high-speed transport system originally put forward by Tesla founder Elon Musk.It incorporates reduced-pressure tubes in which pressurized capsules ride on an air cushion driven by linear induction motors and air compressors, allowing for speeds of more than 1,200 km/h.