Train

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Not to be confused with Locomotive.
This article is about the rail vehicle. For the act of teaching or developing skills or
knowledge, see Training. For other uses, see Train (disambiguation).

A Union Pacific intermodal freight train in Arizona, U.S.

A Eurostar Class 374 passenger train near Sellindge, UK

Map of world railway network (interactive map)

Part of a series on

Rail transport
  Operations
 Track
 Maintenance
 High-speed railways
 Stations
 Trains
 Locomotives
 Railroad cars
 Companies
 History
 Attractions
 Terminology (AU, NA, NZ, UK)
 By country
 Accidents
 Railway couplings
 Couplers by country
 Coupler conversion
 Track gauge
 Variable gauge
 Gauge conversion
 Dual gauge
 Wheelset
 Bogie (truck)
 Dual coupling
 Rail subsidies

 Modelling

 v
 t
 e

A train is a form of rail transport consisting of a series of connected vehicles that

generally run along a railroad (or railway) track to transport passengers or cargo
 (also known as "freight" or "goods"). The word "train" comes from the Old
French trahiner, derived from the Latin trahere meaning "to pull" or "to draw".[1]
Motive power for a train is provided by a separate locomotive or individual motors in
a self-propelled multiple unit. The term "engine" is often used as an alternative to
locomotive. Although historically steam propulsion dominated, the most common
types of locomotive are diesel and electric, the latter supplied by overhead
wires or additional rails. Trains can also be hauled by horses, pulled by engine or
water-driven cable or wire winch, run downhill using gravity, or powered
by pneumatics, gas turbines or electric batteries.
The track usually consists of two running rails with a fixed spacing, which may be
supplemented by additional rails such as electric conducting rails ("third rail")
and rack rails. Monorails and maglev guideways are also occasionally used.[2]
Passenger trains include passenger-carrying vehicles and can often be very long
and fast. High-speed rail systems began expanding rapidly in the late 20th century,
and this remains a major subject of further development. The term "light rail" is
sometimes used to refer to a modern tram system, but it may also mean an
intermediate form between a tram and a train, similar to a heavy rail rapid transit
system.
Freight (goods) trains use freight cars (or wagons/trucks) to transport goods or
materials (cargo). It is possible to carry passengers and freight in the same train
using a mixed consist.
Rail cars and machinery that are used for the maintenance and repair of tracks, are
termed "maintenance of way" equipment; these may be assembled into maintenance
of way trains. Similarly, dedicated trains may be used to provide support services to
stations along a train line, such as garbage or revenue collection.

Contents

 1Types

o 1.1Terminology

 1.1.1United Kingdom

 1.1.2Other countries

 2Bogies

 3Motive power

 4Passenger trains

o 4.1Long-distance trains

 4.1.1High-speed rail

 4.1.2Inter-city trains
  4.1.3Regional trains

 4.1.4Higher-speed rail

o 4.2Short-distance trains

 4.2.1Commuter trains

o 4.3Within cities

 4.3.1Rapid transit

 4.3.2Tram

 4.3.3Light rail

 4.3.4Monorail

 4.3.5Maglev

o 4.4Railcar

o 4.5Other types

 5Freight trains

 6See also

o 6.1Rail transport

o 6.2In popular culture

o 6.3Rail accidents

 7References

 8Further reading

 9External links

Types
Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare, by Claude Monet, 1877, Art Institute of Chicago

There are various types of trains that are designed for particular purposes. A train
can consist of a combination of one or more locomotives and attached railroad cars,
or a self-propelled multiple unit, or occasionally a single or articulated powered
coach called a railcar. Special kinds of train running on corresponding purpose-built
"railways" are monorails, high-speed railways, maglev, atmospheric railways, rubber-
tired underground, funicular and cog railways.
A passenger train consists of one or more locomotives and (usually) several
coaches. Alternatively, a train may consist entirely of passenger-carrying coaches,
some or all of which are powered; this is known as a "multiple unit". In many parts of
the world, particularly the Far East and Europe, high-speed rail is used extensively
for passenger travel. Freight trains consist of cars, wagons or trucks rather than
carriages, though some parcel and mail trains (especially Travelling Post Offices)
appear outwardly to be more like passenger trains. Trains can also have mixed
consist, with both passenger accommodation and freight vehicles. These mixed
trains are most likely to be used for services that run infrequently, where the
provision of separate passenger and freight trains would not be cost-effective, but
the disparate needs of passengers and freight means that this is avoided where
possible. Special trains are also used for track maintenance; in some places, this is
called "maintenance of way".
In the United Kingdom, a train hauled using two locomotives is known as a "double-
headed" train. In Canada and the United States, it is quite common for a long freight
train to be headed by three or more locomotives. A train with a locomotive attached
at both ends is described as "top and tailed", this practice typically being used when
there are no reversing facilities available. Where a second locomotive is attached
temporarily to assist a train when ascending steep banks or gradients (or to provide
braking power for a descent), this is referred to as "banking" in the UK. Many loaded
trains in the US are assembled using one or more locomotives in the middle or at the
rear of the train, which are then operated remotely from the lead cab. This is referred
to as "DP" or "Distributed Power."
Terminology
The railway terminology that is used to describe a train varies between countries.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the interchangeable terms set and unit are used to refer to a
group of permanently or semi-permanently coupled vehicles, such as those of a
multiple unit. While when referring to a train made up of a variety of vehicles, or of
several sets/units, the term formation is used. (Although the UK public and media
often forgo formation, for simply train.) The word rake is also used for a group of
coaches or wagons.
Section 83(1) of the UK's Railways Act 1993 defines "train" as follows:
a) two or more items of rolling stock coupled together, at least one of which is a
locomotive; or
b) a locomotive not coupled to any other rolling stock.