Editing Train (section)

== Operations ==
{{Main|Rail transport operations}}

=== Scheduling and dispatching ===
[[File:Papan Jadwal Perjalanan Kereta Api di ruang tunggu penumpang Stasiun Sukomoro.jpg|thumb|Schedule of train departure times in [[Indonesia]] stations ]]
To prevent collisions or other accidents, trains are often scheduled, and almost always are under the control of [[train dispatcher]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 23, 2021|title=How Does Train Dispatching Work?|url=http://www.up.com/up/customers/track-record/tr030921-how-does-train-dispatching-work.htm|access-date=2021-11-04|website=www.up.com|language=en}}</ref> Historically, trains operated based on [[Public transport timetable|timetables]]; most trains (including nearly all passenger trains), continue to operate based on fixed schedules, though freight trains may instead run on an as-needed basis, or when enough freight cars are available to justify running a train.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lester|first=David C.|date=February 1, 2018|title=Scheduling freight trains|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/train-basics/abcs-of-railroading/scheduling-freight-trains/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Trains|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Maintenance ===
[[File:Metro-North_Bronx_track_work_continues_(9515218549).jpg|thumb|A number of maintenance vehicles at work on [[Metro-North Railroad]]]]
Simple repairs may be done while a train is parked on the tracks, but more extensive repairs will be done at a [[motive power depot]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Guss|first=Chris|date=March 1, 2018|title=Where diesels go to the doctor|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/train-basics/abcs-of-railroading/where-diesels-go-to-the-doctor/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Trains|language=en-US}}</ref> Similar facilities exist for repairing damaged or defective train cars.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Luther|first=Darrel|date=2014-09-22|title=Maintaining Railcars|url=https://wasteadvantagemag.com/maintaining-railcars/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Waste Advantage Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Maintenance of way]] trains are used to build and repair railroad tracks and other equipment.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Solomon|first=Brian|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46976669|title=Railway maintenance equipment|date=2001|publisher=MBI Pub. Co|isbn=0-7603-0975-2|location=Osceola, Wis.|pages=57–59|oclc=46976669}}</ref>

=== Crew ===
[[Train driver]]s, also known as engineers, are responsible for operating trains.<ref name="work">{{Cite web|last=Sperandeo|first=Andy|date=May 1, 2006|title=The people who work on trains|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/train-basics/abcs-of-railroading/the-people-who-work-on-trains/|access-date=2021-11-04|website=Trains|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Conductor (rail)|Conductors]] are in charge of trains and their cargo, and help passengers on passenger trains.<ref name="work" /> [[Brakeman]], also known as trainmen, were historically responsible for manually applying brakes, though the term is used today to refer to crew members who perform tasks such as operating switches, coupling and uncoupling train cars, and setting handbrakes on equipment.<ref name="work" /> Steam locomotives require a [[Fireman (steam engine)|fireman]] who is responsible for fueling and regulating the locomotive's fire and boiler.<ref name="work" /> On passenger trains, other crew members assist passengers, such as chefs to prepare food, and service attendants to provide food and drinks to passengers. Other passenger train specific duties include passenger car attendants, who assist passengers with boarding and alighting from trains, answer questions, and keep train cars clean, and sleeping car attendants, who perform similar duties in [[sleeping car]]s.<ref name="work" /> Some trains can operate with [[automatic train operation]] without a driver directly present.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Germany: Hamburg gets first fully automated tram {{!}} DW {{!}} 11 October 2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-hamburg-gets-first-fully-automated-tram/a-59470896 |access-date=15 November 2021 |work=Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com)}}</ref>

=== Gauge ===
[[File:Narrow_gauge_railroad_-_Geriatriezentrum_Lainz_22.jpg|thumb|A narrow gauge train in [[Austria]]]]
Around the world, various [[track gauge]]s are in use for trains. In most cases, trains can only operate on tracks that are of the same gauge; where different gauge trains meet, it is known as a [[break of gauge]]. [[Standard-gauge railway|Standard gauge]], defined as {{convert|4|ft|8.5|in|mm|abbr=on|order=flip}} between the rails, is the most common gauge worldwide, though both [[Broad-gauge railway|broad-gauge]] and [[Narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] trains are also in use.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hilton|first=George W.|date=May 1, 2006|title=A history of track gauge|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/railroads/history/a-history-of-track-gauge/|access-date=2021-11-06|website=Trains|language=en-US}}</ref> Trains also need to fit within the [[loading gauge]] profile to avoid fouling bridges and lineside infrastructure with this being a potential limiting factor on loads such as [[intermodal container]] types that may be carried.<ref name="IRJ">{{cite magazine|last=Burroughs|first=David|date=15 October 2018|title=Network Rail to increase loading gauge on Doncaster – Immingham Line|magazine=International Railway Journal|url-access=limited|access-date=8 November 2021|archive-date=8 November 2021|url=https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/network-rail-to-increase-loading-gauge-on-doncaster-immingham-line/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211108225553/https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/network-rail-to-increase-loading-gauge-on-doncaster-immingham-line/}}</ref>