Overview
The IC 87 is not a train that shouts about itself, and that is rather the point. It runs south from Stuttgart down to Singen, threading through changing countryside without ever needing a marketing department to justify the trip. This is a service for people who like their scenery to arrive gradually, through the window, rather than being announced.
There is no need to overstate it: this is a straightforward InterCity link rather than a specialist scenic charter. But the route it covers happens to pass through landscape that shifts noticeably as you go, and that alone makes it worth a closer look if you are travelling between these two points anyway.
What follows is a practical guide to riding the IC 87 well: how to think about timing and booking, what to expect from the different classes, where to sit, and how the experience changes depending on the time of year you travel.
Key facts
| From | Stuttgart |
|---|---|
| To | Singen |
| Operator | DB Fernverkehr |
The route: Stuttgart to Singen
The IC 87 connects Stuttgart, a substantial city with a major station serving as a hub for services in the region, with Singen, a town further south that acts as a natural staging post before onward travel towards the Swiss border area and Lake Constance more broadly.
Between the two, the landscape changes character as the train moves south. Expect a progression from urban and suburban surroundings around Stuttgart towards gentler, more open countryside as you approach Singen. The exact scenery will depend on the specific routing used on any given day, so treat this as a general impression rather than a promise of particular landmarks.
As a journey, it has the feel of a steady, unhurried cross-country run rather than a high-speed dash. It suits travellers who enjoy watching a region unfold rather than those who simply want to arrive as fast as possible.
Timetable and how to book
Because services on this route can vary by season, and timings are set by the operator rather than being fixed year-round, you should not rely on any specific departure time you may have seen elsewhere. Always check current times directly with DB Fernverkehr before travelling.
Booking works in the same way as other InterCity services from this operator: through the usual official booking channels, in advance or closer to the day of travel. Booking ahead is generally sensible if you want a particular class of travel or simply want certainty, though exact availability and pricing are matters for the operator's own booking system, not something to guess at in advance.
Fares and classes
The IC 87, like other InterCity services, will typically offer more than one class of travel, and the practical difference between them is mostly about comfort and space rather than speed, since both classes arrive on the same train at the same time.
The higher class generally offers a quieter, more spacious feel, with more room around each seat and a more relaxed atmosphere in the carriage. The standard class is perfectly comfortable for most journeys of this length but will feel busier and closer, particularly if the train is well used.
On fares, the only honest advice is to check with DB Fernverkehr directly. Prices depend on factors such as how far ahead you book and what kind of ticket you choose, and none of that should be guessed at or quoted from memory.
Which side to sit for the views
If scenery is your priority, it is worth thinking about which side of the train you sit on, since the character of the landscape either side of the line can differ noticeably as you travel south towards Singen.
Without knowing the exact alignment on the day you travel, the safest general advice is to pick a window seat rather than worry too much about left versus right, and to keep an eye on the changing terrain as the train moves away from the more built-up area around Stuttgart into the more open country further south.
Panoramic-style windows, where fitted on InterCity rolling stock, help make the most of this regardless of which side you end up on, so a window seat of either kind is really the main thing to aim for.
The onboard experience
Life on board an InterCity service of this kind tends to be calm and functional rather than luxurious. Expect comfortable seating, reasonably wide windows that give a decent view of the passing countryside, and the general hum of a train settling into a steady cross-country rhythm.
Catering, where available on services of this type, typically takes the form of an onboard trolley or buffet-style offering rather than a full restaurant car, so it is worth treating anything on board as a convenience rather than a destination in itself. As ever, specifics should be checked with the operator rather than assumed.
Overall, the onboard feel suits a journey where the point is to relax, watch the landscape change, and arrive without fuss, rather than to be entertained by the train itself.
Best season to travel
The character of this journey shifts with the seasons, as you would expect from a route running through open countryside rather than purely urban surroundings. Warmer months tend to bring longer daylight hours, which means more of the route is visible from the window, particularly useful if you are travelling to enjoy the scenery rather than simply to get from one city to the other.
Winter travel has its own appeal, with a starker, quieter look to the landscape, though shorter daylight hours mean a larger portion of the journey may pass in darkness depending on your specific departure. Neither season is objectively better; it depends whether you prefer long views or a quieter, moodier journey.
Alternatives and onward connections from Singen
Singen functions as a useful staging point rather than a final destination for most travellers, and from there onward connections typically continue towards the Lake Constance area and beyond, including routes that lead towards the Swiss border region.
If the IC 87 itself does not fit your plans, or if it is not operating on a particular date, it is worth checking with DB Fernverkehr for alternative InterCity or regional services covering the same corridor, since routes of this kind are often supplemented or replaced by similar services depending on the timetable period.
As with everything about timings, the sensible approach is to treat Singen as a flexible interchange and confirm your onward connection details close to the date of travel rather than relying on older information.
A note on context
Services of the InterCityExpress and InterCity type in this network have long formed the backbone of longer-distance domestic travel, linking major cities and regional centres in a way that predates today's high-speed lines. The IC 87, as part of this broader family of InterCity services, sits within that tradition of steady, reliable cross-country connections rather than being a purpose-built tourist route.
Over the eras, such services have evolved in rolling stock and comfort while keeping the same basic purpose: linking places like Stuttgart and Singen without requiring travellers to change trains repeatedly along the way. That continuity of purpose is really the most interesting historical fact about a service like this.
Common questions
- Can I rely on a specific departure time for the IC 87?
- No. Timetables vary by season, so you should always check current times directly with DB Fernverkehr before travelling.
- Which class should I choose for the best comfort?
- The higher class generally offers more space and a quieter atmosphere, while standard class is perfectly workable for most journeys but busier. Confirm exact differences and fares with the operator.
- Where should I sit for the best views between Stuttgart and Singen?
- Choose a window seat, since the landscape changes noticeably as the train heads south. Without a fixed routing guarantee, prioritising any window seat is more reliable than picking a specific side.
- What is there to eat or drink on board?
- Where catering is available on services of this type, it is usually a trolley or buffet-style offering rather than a full restaurant car. Check with DB Fernverkehr for what is currently offered.
- What happens when I arrive in Singen?
- Singen serves as a connecting point for onward travel towards the Lake Constance area and beyond. Check current onward connections and alternatives with DB Fernverkehr rather than assuming a fixed pattern.
On the map
Sources & method
- OpenStreetMap route=train (ODbL) — route
See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.