Rotterdam Centraal to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol train with NS International | IC Brussel

Intercity is a broad classification for express train services that connect cities over longer distances than commuter or regional trains, often with limited stops and comfortable carriages for long-distance travel. The term "InterCity" originated with British Rail in 1966 for its electrified West Coast Main Line services.Today, "Intercity" or "IC" is a brand name used by various railway operators across Europe and other parts of the world, including PKP Intercity in Poland, Trenitalia in Italy, and services in countries like Sweden and Ukraine. These trains typically offer both Standard and First Class seating, with amenities such as power sockets and luggage space. While some Intercity services are modern and high-speed, others may use older rolling stock, with speeds generally up to 160 km/h (100 mph).

NS International, formerly NS Hispeed, is a train service which is a subsidiary of Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) from the Netherlands that operates intercity and high-speed connections internationally to many European cities. These Dutch trains have onboard facilities including free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and a variety of food and drinks. NS International offers a variety of train types, including Intercity Direct, Intercity, Sprinter, and Stoptrein. Intercity Direct is the fastest train, reaching speeds of up to 200 km/h. Intercity is a bit slower, reaching speeds of up to 160 km/h. Sprinter is the slowest, reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h. Stoptrein is the local train, stopping at all stations.

Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany’s main train operator, running around 40,000 domestic and international services each day. Its fleet includes a variety of train types: high-speed ICE (Intercity Express) trains, reaching up to 300 km/h; IC (Intercity) and EC (EuroCity) trains for long-distance travel; and IRE (Interregio-Express), RE (Regional Express), and RB (Regionalbahn) services for regional and local connections. While bathrooms are standard on all trains, amenities such as onboard restaurants and free Wi-Fi are available only on certain train types and routes. DB offers a wide range of fares, including Super Saver, Saver, and Flexible tickets, along with discount cards like the BahnCard 25, 50, and 100. Additional options include single tickets, day tickets, and group tickets. Popular routes include Berlin–Munich, Hamburg–Frankfurt, Cologne–Stuttgart, Berlin–Dresden, and Hamburg–Cologne, as well as numerous regional services across Germany.