Editing Train (section)

== Urban rail transit ==
A number of types of trains are used to provide transit to [[urban rail transit|urban areas]]. These are distinct from traditional passenger trains in that they operate more frequently, typically do not share tracks with freight trains, and cover relatively short distances. Many different kinds of systems are in use globally.{{sfn|Herring|2000|p=138-139}}

=== Rapid transit ===
[[Rapid transit]] use trains that operate in tunnels below ground, on [[elevated railway|elevated structures]] like viaducts or bridges above the ground, often on top of city streets or on surface level with an independent alignement from other traffic. In many systems, two or even all three of these types may exist on different portions of a network. Alternative terms for these systems are subway, underground, metro, or heavy rail, the latter indicating higher investment costs and passenger loads compared to light rail.

[[File:New_Orleans_Streetcar_461_on_Carondelet_Street,_24_August_2021_-_02.jpg|thumb|The [[Streetcars in New Orleans|New Orleans Streetcar System]] is the oldest in the world.]]
=== Trams ===
{{Main|Tram}}
Trams, also known in North America as streetcars, typically operate on or parallel to streets in cities, with frequent stops and a high frequency of service.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kobie|first=Nicole|date=April 4, 2018|title=Trams are great for city transport – why doesn't the UK have more?|language=en-GB|magazine=Wired UK|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/trams-edinburgh-manchester-uk-transport-system|access-date=2021-11-05|issn=1357-0978}}</ref> Trams emerged in the USA in the 1830s and became popular from the 1860s in Europe and later in other regions as well. Since the 1990s low-floor trams have become common.

[[File:Zoetermeer Station Centrum West (cropped).JPG|thumb|[[RegioCitadis]] light rail train in [[Zoetermeer|Zoetermeer (the Netherlands)]].]]
=== Light rail ===
{{Main|Light rail}}
Light rail is a catchall term for a variety of systems, which use tram technology, but with more separate right-of-ways and often a longer distance between stops.<ref>{{cite web |title=Streetcars vs Light Rail ... Is There a Difference? |url=https://humantransit.org/2010/03/streetcars-vs-light-rail-is-there-a-difference.html |website=Human Transit |access-date=24 March 2025 |date=26 March 2010}}</ref> The term was coined in the USA in 1972 to refer to modernised tram systems and include [[tram-train]] and [[semi-metro]] systems. Despite the name, diesel light rail transit (DLRT) uses mainline railway technology.