InterCity

InterCity is a name for the inter-city rail services in Europe.

In continental Europe, the word InterCity is used as a brand for certain long distance trains. These trains call at the major stations only; there are many more smaller stations served by local and regional trains only.

The term originated in the United Kingdom, with InterCity sector of British Rail. However, following privatisation, the term is no longer used there officially, although many people still refer to InterCity trains.

In many countries InterCity trains require a supplement to be paid in addition to the regular ticket cost. For example, in Slovakia the special InterCity fares are much higher than fares for other trains, whereas in Croatia the InterCity supplement is fixed and adds around 10% to the ticket cost. In Finland it depends on distance, range is around 17% to 27% more than in commuter train.

According to the railway operators, InterCity trains require only a third of the amount of energy spent by passenger airplanes and a sixth of the energy spent by single-passenger cars, and are boasted as energy-efficient and friendly to the environment.

The EuroCity trains are an improved version of InterCity.