I've done a fair amount of research but am still looking for some guidance.

Through family I have a lot of postwar Lionel trains in O scale but due to my son's interests I'm looking to add some European trains (especially high speed trains). I've settled on HO and really would like to do Marklin. At the same time I'd like to have the flexibility to be able to use the same tracks/transformers/etc for US trains (e.g. Subway trains). From what I have researched it seems like the best plan for that would be to purchase Trix rather than regular Marklin.

To get started I had been looking at the 29792 ICE train starter set which seems like just what I wanted. Unfortunately for me that configuration seems to only be available for AC/Marklin and the closest equivalent for DC/Trix would be to get the 22784 ICE train plus a 21000 track/transformer starter kit. The total price would be $900usd instead of $400usd. I realize I'd be getting a larger consist and a better train but I'd still rather be able to pay a bit less at the start.

So, I have two questions:
1. Am I missing something and are there actually the train starter sets for Trix?
2. Does anyone in the US have experience using Marklin? Am I worrying too much about AC vs. DC and should I just buy Marklin?

This might be an interesting Start Set by Roco (DC):

https://www.rocousa.com/...ue_Starter_Set_ICE_DB_AG

Roco is another very good German/Austrian model train company. You can use Trix or any other DC (LSM, ACME, etc) material on Roco tracks

Personally, I use Maerklin tracks and system with AC locomotives from a number of companies and AC and DC rolling stock from many brands

Regards

Mike C

Thanks all. Some good options here.

From what you are describing, the critical decision is the track system, and that depends on which rolling stock is available for it.
For European trains many makes exist in both 3 conductor (Maerklin) and 2 conductor (Trix, Roco, etc)

For the US side, some models are made by the euro manufacturers but special niche items like subways not really.

So the key is to find which US specific trains you want to run, and what system are they. If they are 2 conductor (ie DC/DCC) then you should rule out Marklin in favor of a Euro 2 rail solution such as Trix as the alternative.

Thus first see what your US rolling stock desires limit you to in terms of track type, then match up a compatible Euro track system that the US stock will work on, and from there get Euro rolling stock that works on that track set.