InterCity 1018045 222524458 2008-06-29T20:26:25Z Iridescent 937705 Cleanup/[[WP:AWB/T|typo fixing]], typos fixed: hungarian → Hungarian (2), for for → for using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] :''This article is about the InterCity system in general. For the British Rail system, see [[InterCity (British Rail)]].'' [[Image:InterCity.svg|thumb|InterCity logo of the [[Deutsche Bundesbahn]], 1971-1991]] '''InterCity''' (commonly abbreviated '''''IC''''' on timetables and tickets) is the classification applied to certain long-distance [[passenger train]] services in [[Europe]]. Such trains (in contrast to regional, local, or commuter trains) generally call at major [[railway station|station]]s only. The term originated in the [[United Kingdom]], with the [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity sector of British Rail]]. Following the privatisation of the railways in [[Great Britain]] the term is no longer in official use there, although many people still refer to fast long-distance services as InterCity trains. The German [[Deutsche Bundesbahn|Bundesbahn]] first used the name (then written ''Intercity'') in [[1968]], denominating special first-class services on the [[F train]] network. Many of the [[DB Class VT 11.5|Class VT 11.5]] [[diesel multiple units]] formerly used on the [[Trans Europ Express|TEE]] network were converted for early Intercity services. In Switzerland, the InterCity replaced the SwissExpress with the 1982 schedule. An international variant of the InterCity are the [[EuroCity]] (EC) trains which were introduced in May 1987. EuroCity trains consist of high-standard, [[air conditioned]] coaches and are usually subject to on-board border controls. EuroCity trains are run by a variety of operators, for example EuroCity trains running in Germany can be made up by rolling stock of either the [[SBB CFF FFS|SBB]] (Switzerland), [[ÖBB]] (Austria) and the [[SNCF]] (France), but also less commonly by the Czech [[ČD]] and the Hungarian [[MÁV]]. [[Image:IC Steuerwagen.jpg|thumb|right|[[Deutsche Bahn|DB]] InterCity [[cab car]] in [[Bremen Hauptbahnhof|Bremen Hbf]]]] == InterCity by country == === Austria === [[Image:InterCity Austria.svg|75px|left|InterCity Symbol in Austria]] The [[Österreichische Bundesbahnen|ÖBB]] operate IC services. However, contrary to most other countries, these services are often little more than regional trains, as most long-distance, high-standard trains in Austria are likely to be [[EuroCity]] services. Modernised stock is used under the brand name ''ÖBB-IC'' on the [[Westbahn]]. IC-Services by June 2008: Vienna Southern Train Station - Bruck/Mur - Klagenfurt - Villach (all 2 hours with several trains running as ÖBBEC) Vienna Southern Train Station - Bruck/Mur - Graz Main Station (all 2 hours with several trains running as ÖBBEC, 4 trains heading to Maribor, Ljunjana and Zagrab) Vienna Southern Train Station - Wiener Neustadt - Sopron - Csorna Vienna Southern Train Station - Breclav (trains are operating as EC or D for Brno, Praha, Krakow, Warsaw and Berlin) Vienna Western Train Station - Linz - Salzburg (trains are operating from 5am to 10pm, hourly) Linz Main Station - Selzthal - Leoben - Graz Main Station (2 trains operating in peak hours) Graz Main Station - Selzthal - Bischofshofen - Salzburg Main Station (4 trains per day) Graz Main Station - Bischofshofen - Innsbruck (1 train per day, additional trains as ÖBBEC to Bregenz and as EN to Zurich) Klagenfurt - Villach - Bischofshofen - Salzburg Main Station (trains operating every 2 hours, services running to Munich, Dortmund, Zagreb) Innsbruck - Bregenz (service is running for Stuttgart and Dortmund) Graz Main Station - Klagenfurt (Service is operating as InterCity Bus till the Koralmbahn will be opened) The InterCity Service from Vienna to Salzburg is going to be expanded for an hourly service to Landeck via Innsbruck by December 2008. Also, the Service from Vienna to Graz is going to operate hourly by December 2008. InterCity stops in Austria: Westbahn: Wien Westbahnhof, Wien Hütteldorf, St. Pölten HBF, Amstetten, St. Valentin, Linz HBF, Wels HBF, Attnag-Puchheim, Vöcklabruck, Salzburg HBF Südbahn: Wien Südbahnhof, Wien Meidling, Wiener Neustadt HBF, Mürzzuschlag, Bruck an der Mur, Frohnleiten, Graz HBF, Wildon, Leibnitz, Spielfeld-Straß Line from Bruck an der Mur to Villach: Bruck an der Mur, Leoben HBF, Knittelfeld, Zeltweg, Judenburg, Unzmarkt, Friesach in Kärnten, Treibach-Althofen, St.Veit an der Glan, Klagenfurt HBF, Krumpendorf am Wörthersee, Pörtschach am Wörthersee, Velden am Wörthersee, Villach HBF Line from Villach to Salzburg: Villach HBF, Spittal-Millstättersee, Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein, Sportgastein, Schwarzach-St.Veit, St.Johann im Pongau, Bischofshofen, Werfen, Golling-Abtenau, Salzburg Süd, Salzburg HBF {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} === Belgium === The InterCity trains links all major cities of Belgium. Some of them serve also destinations outside the country. The IC between [[Liège]] and [[Brussels]] is travelling at 200 km/h on the [[HSL 2]]. [[Image:InterCity Train between Roosendaal and Brussels South.JPG|thumb|right|InterCity between Roosendaal and Brussels South]] === Czech Republic === In [[Czech Republic]] IC trains services route [[Prague]] - [[Ostrava]] with speed up to 160 km/h. On this route they jointly with "Supercity [[Pendolino]]" trains completely replaced daily express trains. One pair of IC trains is also operated on route [[Bohumin]] - [[Budapest]]. No surcharge is applied to IC trains. === Denmark === The Intercity network of the [[Danish State Railways]] consists of IC trains and their faster version, ''Lyntog'' (Lightning Train), which is identical but with less stops. Each train type operates hourly between the eastern terminus at Copenhagen and westwards to [[Odense]]-[[Århus]]-[[Ålborg]], and less frequently to alternative destinations in [[Jutland]]. These are run by [[IC3]] diesel materiel since most of the network is not electrified. There are also electrical IC trains run by [[IR4]]s in an hourly schedule from Copenhagen westwards to [[Odense]] and alternately [[Esbjerg]]/[[Sønderborg]]. This means during most of the day there are three trains an hour between Copenhagen and Odense. Uniquely in the world, some trains will consist of both electrically and diesel-powered units coupled together. Being the only option for long-distance and some short-distance travel, there is no surcharge for IC and Lyntog. They have a maximum speed of 180 km/h. Additionally, there a few IR trains during Friday and Sunday peak hours between Copenhagen and Århus. These are locomotive-run and have [[bilevel car]]s. The IC3 trains are planned to be replaced by new [[IC4]] trains, originally in 2001, but they have only been driving test drives so far. === Finland === In [[Finland]], [[VR Group|VR]] (e.g.. Helsinki–Tampere–Oulu–Rovaniemi, Helsinki–Turku, Helsinki–Iisalmi and Helsinki–Joensuu). The maximum speed of the trains is 140–200 km/h. Additional surcharge compared to ordinary express trains is, according to length of the travel, is 17—27%. VR uses the notation InterCity. An InterCity train can be recognized from red-white colour scheme. VR is planning to make InterCity trains as the Finnish long distance rail travel mainstay, and their predecessors, express trains, are being withdrawn off the schedules. Only the [[Pendolino]] trains are faster than InterCity trains in Finland. VR operated both ordinary InterCity trains (IC) and double-decker trains (IC²). An ordinary IC train consists of 3 to 4 double-decker cars and 3 to 5 ordinary IC cars. In addition the train has a restaurant car. IC² train consists only of double-decker cars and has no separate restaurant car. The IC cars have separate ventilated smoking cabins instead of smokers' compartments. {{-}} {{Commons|InterCity}} === Germany === In [[Germany]], the InterCity network was launched in [[1971]] to accompany and eventually replace the [[Trans Europ Express]] trains. At first, IC services were first-class only, often using TEE stock and the then-new [[DB Class 103|Class 103]] locomotives. Trains ran bi-hourly. In [[1978]], it was decided to expand the IC network to services with both first and second class, and so the new scheme, called '''''IC <nowiki>'79</nowiki>''''' was launched in [[1979]] with the motto ''"Jede Stunde, jede Klasse"'' ("every hour, every class") to emphasize its new structure. Large numbers of air-conditioned open coach cars, the ''Bpmz 291'', were built for InterCity services, which at first were using the TEE colour scheme. In 1985, with many of the TEE trains gone and the introduction of the [[InterRegio]], the network was expanded again, now covering virtually any major city of then-[[West Germany]]. It faced further changes after the [[German reunification]] and the introduction of the [[InterCityExpress]] in the early 1990s. Today, after the abolition of the InterRegio in 2002, most long distance connections in Germany are either IC or ICE trains; they most commonly offer at least an hourly service. Maximum speed for an IC is 200 km/h. ===Hungary=== Intercity train services in Hungary: * [[Budapest]]-[[Keleti pályaudvar|Keleti]]– [[Miskolc]]-[[Tiszai pályaudvar|Tiszai]]–[[Debrecen]]–[[Budapest]]-[[Nyugati pályaudvar|Nyugati]] (Kör/Circle-IC, 2 óránként/per 2 hours) * [[Budapest]]-[[Keleti pályaudvar|Keleti]]–[[Miskolc]]-[[Tiszai pályaudvar|Tiszai]] (2 óránként) * [[Budapest]]-[[Nyugati pályaudvar|Nyugati]]–[[Nyíregyháza]] (2 óránként/per 2 hours) * [[Budapest]]-[[Nyugati pályaudvar|Nyugati]]–[[Szeged]] (óránként/per hour) * [[Budapest]]-[[Keleti pályaudvar|Keleti]]–[[Győr]]–[[Sopron]] és [[Szombathely]] (4 óránként/per 4 hours) * [[Budapest]]-[[Keleti pályaudvar|Keleti]]–[[Pécs]] (2-3 óránként/2-3 hours) * [[Budapest]]-[[Keleti pályaudvar|Keleti]]–[[Nagykanizsa]] és [[Keszthely]] (Kanizsa-Zala IC, Mura-Helikon IC) * [[Budapest]]-[[Déli pályaudvar|Déli]]–[[Kaposvár]]–[[Nagykanizsa]] (Somogy IC) * [[Budapest]]-[[Keleti pályaudvar|Keleti]]–[[Békéscsaba]]–[[Temesvár]]/[[Tirgu Mures(Marosvásárhely)]] (Körös IC, Traianus IC, Maros/Mures IC, Ister EN(Euronight)) The Hungarian intercity trains are operated by MAV-START , the Hungarian railway company. ===Ireland=== {{main | InterCity (Irish Rail)}} [[Image:Intercitymk4logo.png‎|90px|left|Iarnrod Éireann InterCity logo]] In the [[Republic of Ireland]], [[Iarnrod Éireann]] introduced the brand name InterCity in 1987, replacing the previous name of ''Mainline''. Initially applied to services operated by [[British Rail Mark 3]] trains, it was later extended to include all services not part of the [[Dublin Suburban Rail]] network. Today the brand encompasses services between [[Dublin]] and [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Galway]], [[Limerick]], [[Waterford]], [[Sligo]], [[Westport, County Mayo|Westport]], [[Rosslare]], [[Ballina]], and [[Ennis]], as well as some regional services. A new InterCity logo was introduced in 2003, though as of [[July 2007]] the vast majority of rolling stock still bears the original script logo and orange-tan livery. [[Northern Ireland Railways]] and [[Iarnrod Éireann]] both formerly operated trains on the [[Dublin]] - [[Belfast]] line under the InterCity brand, however this was replaced with the revived [[Enterprise (train)|Enterprise]] brand name upon the introduction of the [[De Dietrich Ferroviaire]] rolling stock in 1997. This, coupled with the subsequent withdrawal of most coaching stock bearing the logo and the rebrand to the Translink name, means that the InterCity brand has largely disappeared from Northern Ireland Railways. === The Netherlands === [[Image:IMGP1566 (Large).JPG|thumb|[[Intercitymaterieel|ICM]] in Utrecht]] Trains denoted as IC services are commonplace in the Netherlands, but due to the geographical situation of the country they call at stations rather often, and are more similar to regional services of other countries than to a true intercity link. Rolling stock most commonly seen is the [[Koploper]] (called ''Intercitymaterieel'' or ''Plan Z'') multiple unit, though [[Nederlandse Spoorwegen]] acquired a number of ex-[[Deutsche Bahn|DB]] express coaches for locomotive-hauled services. ===Poland=== In [[Poland]] IC trains service routes * Warsaw - Wloszczowa Polnoc - Cracow with speed up to 160 km/h. * Warsaw - Wloszczowa Polnoc - Katowice - Bielsko Biala with speed up to 160 km/h *Warsaw - Wloszczowa Polnoc - Katowice - Gliwice with speed up to 160 km/h *Warsaw - Poznan - Wroclaw with speed up to 160 km/h *Warsaw - Katowice - Opole - Wroclaw with speed up to 160 km/h *Warsaw - Poznan - Szczecin with speed up to 160 km/h *Warsaw - Gdansk - Gdynia with speed up to 160 km/h *Warsaw - Deblin - Lublin (until 2002) with speed up to 140 km/h *Gdynia - Warsaw - Cracow with speed up to 160 km/h *Gdynia - Warsaw - Gliwice with speed up to 160 km/h InterCity trains in Poland mostly use the locomotive named [[EP09]], sometimes [[EP07]] === Romania === Currently InterCity lines link the capital Bucharest to Arad, Oradea, Cluj Napoca, Suceava, Constanta and Timisoara. A high-confort InterCity network (The Blue Line) connects Bucharest with Iasi, Brasov, Galati, Pitesti, Craiova, Mangalia, Tulcea and also functions between the following cities: Cluj Napoca-Arad-Timisoara, Cluj Napoca-Sibiu, Cluj Napoca-Satu Mare, Sibiu-Craiova, Sibiu-Brasov, Sibiu-Timisoara, Resita-Timisoara, Cluj Napoca-Bistrita.<ref>http://www.cfr.ro/calatori/romana/index_ro.html</ref> === Switzerland === Swiss InterCity services started in [[1982]], replacing the [[Swiss Express]] on the line Geneva-St. Gallen. As there is no surcharge for express services in Switzerland and rolling stock is mostly the same as on [[InterRegio]] services, there is little difference between IC and ordinary services. Some IC lines run with [[double-deck]] coaches as they see heavy usage by commuters. There also is a [[tilting train]] category called [[SBB-CFF-FFS RABDe 500|ICN]]. {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ===United Kingdom=== The term [[InterCity (British Rail)|"Inter-City"]] was first used by state railway company [[British Rail]] in 1966, to [[British Rail brand names|brand]] all its longer-distance, higher-speed services (the hyphen was dropped shortly afterwards, changing the name to "InterCity"). The brand was closely associated with a new design of carriage, the [[British Rail Mark 2|Mk2]] which revolutionised levels of comfort on the system. The system was hugely successful and became one of the world's few profitable public railway services. Today, after Britain's railways have been privatised, InterCity trains in the UK are operated by many different train companies including [[National Express East Anglia]], [[CrossCountry]], [[First Great Western]], [[Virgin Trains]], [[National Express East Coast|National Express]] and [[East Midlands Trains]]. Most of these companies operate their services from one of the many London terminuses, with [[CrossCountry]] being the exception, running from [[Cornwall]] to [[Scotland]]. If travelling via [[London]] it is often necessary to change stations: a journey from [[Norwich]] to [[Cardiff]] would require a transfer from [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]] to [[London Paddington]] station. The British Government have named their project to replace [[High Speed Trains]] as the [[Intercity Express Programme]]. == References == <references/> [[Category:Rail transport in Europe]] [[Category:Trains]] [[cs:InterCity]] [[da:InterCity]] [[de:InterCity]] [[fr:InterCity]] [[it:Intercity]] [[hu:InterCity]] [[ms:InterCity]] [[nl:Intercity]] [[ja:インターシティ]] [[pl:InterCity]] [[ru:InterCity]] [[sk:InterCity]] [[fi:Intercity]] [[sv:InterCity]]