InterCity was the sector of British Rail responsible for long-distance express trains.

InterCity was separated into divisions; East Coast, West Coast, Cross Country, Great Western, Great Eastern, Gatwick Express and Midland.

InterCity operated High Speed Trains, InterCity 225 trains, and various other loco-hauled trains.

The InterCity livery consisted of Dark grey on white with a red stripe. There were several variations:

• Executive - First introduced in 1984, based on the APT-P livery. It consisted of a dark grey upper body, an off-white lower body, and horizontal red and white central bodyside stripes. Half-yellow front ends which wrapped around the lower cab ends. InterCity branding on upper grey body, and white numbers carried on upper (grey) cabside.
• ScotRail - As Executive livery, but with red stripe replaced by a light blue stripe, and ScotRail branding.
• Mainline - Introduced in 1988. As Executive livery but minus the brandings and yellow wrap around cab ends, and with full-yellow front end.
• Swallow - Final version, introduced in 1989. As Mainline livery but with white lower body, half-yellow front end, InterCity branding and Swallow logo on upper grey bodyside, and black lower cabside numbers.

The East Coast Main Line was electrified during the late 1980s.

On the privitisation of British Rail, InterCity trains became handled by Anglia Railways (later 'One'), Great Western Trains (later First Great Western), Virgin Trains (West Coast and Cross Country franchises), Midland Mainline, Gatwick Express and GNER.