InterCity

Intercity, also Intercity ( short form: IC ), is an internationally used term for a type of train. The term is used in many European countries for most national quality traits. In some countries the IC for an additional fee. The international version of the InterCity trains since May 1987, the Euro City (EC).

Individual tracks

United Kingdom

For the first time the term Intercity for fast moving trains in the UK was introduced in the British Railways.

Germany

The German Federal Railroad used the term in 1968 for high-end features of the F- train network. Many of the former TEE diesel railcar VT 11.5 series were now used instead of the TEA transport in these services. They wore therefore on its face, a metal sign that reads " Inter City", which was mounted on the TEA emblem.

The basic idea of the intercity system in Germany was based on a proposal from the head office of the German Federal Railroad in April 1967 which was aimed at the establishment of a dense inner-German high-speed railcars network to which all major global financial centers should be connected together. A year later, the Board of the German Federal Railroad approved an operational program. From the end of 1968, a working group with technical and commercial issues dealt. A building upon it, comprehensive proposal for an inter-city network has been approved by the Management Board of DB on 1 August 1969. The concept was subsequently incorporated by the chief operating lines and the federal railway divisions in the existing timetable. Due to longer delivery times for passenger cars of the start of the winter timetable section 1971/1972 was laid down on 26 September 1971 as the launch date. IC trains partially replaced the former fast trains and differ from the rest of the rail traffic through better rolling stock, higher speed and fewer intermediate stops. In the first years of the IC trains ran in the 2 -hour intervals and led exclusively with first class.

However, the preparation time was too short. The project could not be moved but because of the ongoing advertising campaign. Thus began the intercity transportation in mangelhaftem road condition and lack of safety precautions (1971 recorded the DB a number of serious accidents [ Note 1 ] ) and with insufficient car park. The primacy of the IC trains especially other traffic was messed up the schedule. An unprecedented wave of time delays was the result. The ruthless favor of the IC travelers from other users of the web was drastically: For a private train was sometimes used to bring two IC travelers who had missed their connection, their destination. Elsewhere then lacked locomotives and "normal" trains could not leave. That brought the German Federal Railroad a harsh criticism.

As of 1979, the 2nd class was introduced in some intercity trains, then in succession in all.

From the early days of Intercity well into the 90s IC trains were normally transported by locomotives of the series 103. Gradually it was replaced by the 120 series ( starting 1988) and 101 (1996).

With the use of the ICE from mid-1991, the Inter- City lost its status as the top product of the web. In Germany, the surcharge requirement is eliminated with the introduction of the new pricing system, here he is now as a separate product class (B). An IC leads in most compounds have a dining car or bistro. On some routes only a minibar to supply the traveler is offered.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, the InterCity 1982 solved with the introduction of synchronized timetable from the city express trains, which have been marketed so far on the east-west axis as Swiss Express. The air-conditioned cars were considered as a distinguishing feature compared to the other express trains. With the introduction of the InterCity there were only a few cars, because the EW IV were still in delivery and in 1982 only a few first - class cars were available. Later, the mandatory portion of air-conditioned car in an IC strain composition (i.e., without reinforcement cars) to "at least 80 % " set.