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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the series of rail vehicles. For the act of developing skills,
see Training. For the vehicle that hauls trains, see Locomotive. For other uses,
see Train (disambiguation).
For broader coverage of this topic, see Rail transport.
An electric locomotive pulling a passenger train in Russia

A rack railway in Switzerland

Diesel locomotives pulling a freight train in New Zealand

A suspended monorail in Germany

A metro train in India

 A restored steam locomotive in the United States

A tram in Switzerland

A light rail in Germany

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Transport portal
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A train (from Old French trahiner, from Latin trahere, "to pull, to draw")[1] is a series of
connected vehicles that run along a railway track and transport people or freight. Trains
are typically pulled or pushed by locomotives (often known simply as "engines"), though
some are self-propelled, such as multiple units or railcars. Passengers and cargo are
carried in railroad cars, also known as wagons or carriages. Trains are designed to a
certain gauge, or distance between rails. Most trains operate on steel tracks with steel
wheels, the low friction of which makes them more efficient than other forms of
transport. Many countries use rail transport.

Trains have their roots in wagonways, which used railway tracks and were powered by
horses or pulled by cables. Following the invention of the steam locomotive in the
United Kingdom in 1802, trains rapidly spread around the world, allowing freight and
passengers to move over land faster and cheaper than ever possible before. Rapid
transit and trams were first built in the late 1800s to transport large numbers of people in
and around cities. Beginning in the 1920s, and accelerating following World War
II, diesel and electric locomotives replaced steam as the means of motive power.
Following the development of cars, trucks, and extensive networks of highways which
offered greater mobility, as well as faster airplanes, trains declined in importance and
market share, and many rail lines were abandoned. The spread of buses led to the
closure of many rapid transit and tram systems during this time as well.

Since the 1970s, governments, environmentalists, and train advocates have promoted
increased use of trains due to their greater fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas
emissions compared to other modes of land transport. High-speed rail, first built in the
1960s, has proven competitive with cars and planes over short to medium
distances. Commuter rail has grown in importance since the 1970s as an alternative to
congested highways and a means to promote development, as has light rail in the 21st
century. Freight trains remain important for the transport of bulk commodities such as
coal and grain, as well as being a means of reducing road traffic congestion by freight
trucks.

While conventional trains operate on relatively flat tracks with two rails, a number of
specialized trains exist which are significantly different in their mode of
operation. Monorails operate on a single rail, while funiculars and rack railways are
uniquely designed to traverse steep slopes. Experimental trains such as high
speed maglevs, which use magnetic levitation to float above a guideway, are under
development in the 2020s and offer higher speeds than even the fastest conventional
trains. Trains which use alternative fuels such as natural gas and hydrogen are another
21st-century development.

Types and terminology

Arrival of the Normandy Train, Gare Saint-Lazare,

by Claude Monet, 1877, Art Institute of Chicago
Trains can be sorted into types based on whether they haul passengers or freight
(though mixed trains which haul both exist), by their weight (heavy rail for regular
trains, light rail for lighter transit systems), by their speed, by their distance (short
haul, long distance, transcontinental), and by what form of track they use. Conventional
trains operate on two rails, but several other types of track systems are also in use
around the world, such as monorail.

Terminology
The railway terminology that is used to describe a train varies between countries.
The International Union of Railways seeks to provide standardised terminology across
languages.[2] The Association of American Railroads provides terminology for North
America.[3]

The British Rail Safety and Standards Board defines a train as a "light locomotive, self-
propelled rail vehicle or road-rail vehicle in rail mode."[4] A collection of passenger or
freight carriages connected together (not necessarily with a locomotive) is referred to as
a rake.[5] A collection of rail vehicles may also be called a consist.[6] A set of vehicles that
are coupled together (such as the Pioneer Zephyr) is called a trainset.[7] The term rolling
stock is used to describe any kind of railway vehicle.[8]

History
Main article: History of rail transport
Early history
 Stockton and Darlington special inaugural train 1825: six
wagons of coal, directors coach, then people in wagons.
Trains are an evolution of wheeled wagons running on stone wagonways, the earliest of
which were built by Babylon circa 2,200 BCE.[9] Starting in the 1500s, wagonways were
introduced to haul material from mines; from the 1790s, stronger iron rails were
introduced.[9] Following early developments in the second half of the 1700s, in 1804 a
steam locomotive built by British inventor Richard Trevithick powered the first ever
steam train.[10] Outside of coal mines, where fuel was readily available, steam
locomotives remained untried until the opening of the Stockton and Darlington
Railway in 1825. British engineer George Stephenson ran a steam locomotive
named Locomotion No. 1 on this 40-kilometer (25-mile) long line, hauling over 400
passengers at up to 13 kilometers per hour (8 mph). The success of this locomotive,
and Stephenson's Rocket in 1829, convinced many of the value in steam locomotives,
and within a decade the stock market bubble known as "Railway Mania" started across
the United Kingdom.[11]

The Union Pacific Big Boy locomotives represented the

pinnacle of steam locomotive technology and power.
News of the success of steam locomotives quickly reached the United States, where the
first steam railroad opened in 1829.[12] American railroad pioneers soon started
manufacturing their own locomotives, designed to handle the sharper curves and
rougher track typical of the country's railroads.[13] The other nations of Europe also took
note of British railroad developments, and most countries on the continent constructed
and opened their first railroads in the 1830s and 1840s, following the first run of a steam
train in France in late 1829.[14] In the 1850s, trains continued to expand across Europe,
with many influenced by or purchases of American locomotive designs. [14] Other
European countries pursued their own distinct designs. Around the world, steam
locomotives grew larger and more powerful throughout the rest of the century as
technology advanced.[15]

Trains first entered service in South America, Africa, and Asia through construction
by imperial powers, which starting in the 1840s built railroads to solidify control of their
colonies and transport cargo for export.[16] In Japan, which was never colonized,
railroads first arrived in the early 1870s. By 1900, railroads were operating on every
continent besides uninhabited Antarctica.[17]

New technologies

Electric train on Djursholmsbanan in Stockholm in the

1890s.
Even as steam locomotive technology continued to improve, inventors
in Germany started work on alternative methods for powering trains. Werner von
Siemens built the first train powered by electricity in 1879, and went on to pioneer
electric trams.[15] Another German inventor, Rudolf Diesel, constructed the first diesel
engine in the 1890s, though the potential of his invention to power trains was not
realized until decades later.[15] Between 1897 and 1903, tests of experimental electric
locomotives on the Royal Prussian Military Railway in Germany demonstrated they
were viable, setting speed records in excess of 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph).[18]

The EMD FT set the stage for diesel locomotives to take

over from steam.
Early gas powered "doodlebug" self-propelled railcars entered service on railroads in
the first decade of the 1900s.[19] Experimentation with diesel and gas power continued,
culminating in the German "Flying Hamburger" in 1933, and the influential
American EMD FT in 1939.[20] These successful diesel locomotives showed that diesel
power was superior to steam, due to lower costs, ease of maintenance, and better
reliability.[21] Meanwhile, Italy developed an extensive network of electric trains during
the first decades of the 20th century, driven by that country's lack of significant coal
reserves.[18]

Dieselization and increased competition

World War II brought great destruction to existing railroads across Europe, Asia, and
Africa. Following the war's conclusion in 1945, nations which had suffered extensive
damage to their railroad networks took the opportunity provided by Marshall Plan funds
(or economic assistance from the USSR and Comecon, for nations behind the Iron
Curtain) and advances in technology to convert their trains to diesel or electric
power.[22] France, Russia, Switzerland, and Japan were leaders in adopting
widespread electrified railroads, while other nations focused primarily
on dieselization.[23] By 1980, the majority of the world's steam locomotives had been
retired, though they continued to be used in parts of Africa and Asia, along with a few
holdouts in Europe and South America.[24] China was the last country to fully dieselize,
due to its abundant coal reserves; steam locomotives were used to haul mainline trains
as late as 2005 in Inner Mongolia.[25]

Trains began to face strong competition from automobiles and freight trucks in the
1930s, which greatly intensified following World War II.[26] After the war, air transport also
became a significant competitor for passenger trains. Large amounts of traffic shifted to
these new forms of transportation, resulting in a widespread decline in train service,
both freight and passenger.[23] A new development in the 1960s was high-speed rail,
which runs on dedicated rights of way and travels at speeds of 240 kilometers per hour
(150 mph) or greater. The first high-speed rail service was the Japanese Shinkansen,
which entered service in 1964.[27] In the following decades, high speed rail networks
were developed across much of Europe and Eastern Asia, providing fast and reliable
service competitive with automobiles and airplanes.[27] The first high-speed train in the
Americas was Amtrak's Acela in the United States, which entered service in 2000.[28]

China operates an extensive high speed rail network.

To the present day
Towards the end of the 20th century, increased awareness of the benefits of trains for
transport led to a revival in their use and importance. Freight trains are significantly
more efficient than trucks, while also emitting far fewer greenhouse gas emissions per
ton-mile; passenger trains are also far more energy efficient than other modes of
transport. According to the International Energy Agency, "On average, rail requires 12
times less energy and emits 7–11 times less GHGs per passenger-km travelled than
private vehicles and airplanes, making it the most efficient mode of motorised
passenger transport. Aside from shipping, freight rail is the most energy-efficient and
least carbon-intensive way to transport goods."[29] As such, rail transport is considered
an important part of achieving sustainable energy.[30] Intermodal freight trains,
carrying double-stack shipping containers, have since the 1970s generated significant
business for railroads and gained market share from trucks.[31] Increased use of
commuter rail has also been promoted as a means of fighting traffic congestion on
highways in urban areas.[32][better source needed]
Components
Bogies

US-style railroad truck (bogie) with journal bearings

Main article: Bogie
Bogies, also known in North America as trucks,[citation needed] support the wheels and axles of
trains. Trucks range from just one axle to as many as four or more. Two-axle trucks are
in the widest use worldwide, as they are better able to handle curves and support heavy
loads than single axle trucks.[33][failed verification]

Couplers
Main article: Railway coupling
Train vehicles are linked to one another by various systems of coupling. In much of
Europe, India, and South America, trains primarily use buffers and chain couplers. In
the rest of the world, Janney couplers are the most popular, with a few local variations
persisting (such as Wilson couplers in the former Soviet Union). On multiple units all
over the world, Scharfenberg couplers are common.[34]

Brakes
Main article: Railway air brake
Because trains are heavy, powerful brakes are needed to slow or stop trains, and
because steel wheels on steel rails have relatively low friction, brakes must be
distributed among as many wheels as possible.[failed verification] Early trains could only be
stopped by manually applied hand brakes, requiring workers to ride on top of the cars
and apply the brakes when the train went downhill.[failed verification] Hand brakes are still used
to park cars and locomotives, but the predominant braking system for trains globally is
air brakes, invented in 1869 by George Westinghouse.[failed verification] Air brakes are applied
at once to the entire train using air hoses.[35]

Warning devices
 This cab car includes a horn (top), a bell (top right),
headlights (above the door), classification lights (red lights on side), and ditch lights
(white lights on side).
For safety and communication, trains are equipped with bells, horns, and lights[failed
verification] [36][37][globalize]
. Steam locomotives typically use steam whistles rather than horns.[failed
verification]
Other types of lights may be installed on locomotives and cars, such
as classification lights, Mars Lights, and ditch lights.[38][globalize][failed verification]

Cabs
Locomotives are in most cases[failed verification] equipped with cabs, also known as driving
compartments, where a train driver controls the train's
operation.[39][globalize][better source needed] They may also be installed on unpowered train cars known
as cab or control cars, to allow for a train to operate with the locomotive at the
rear.[40][better source needed]

Operations
Main article: Rail transport operations
Scheduling and dispatching
To prevent collisions or other accidents, trains are often scheduled, and almost always
are under the control of train dispatchers.[41] Historically, trains operated based
on 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.[42]

Maintenance

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.[43] Similar facilities exist for repairing
damaged or defective train cars.[44] Maintenance of way trains are used to build and
repair railroad tracks and other equipment.[45]

Crew
Train drivers, also known as engineers, are responsible for operating
trains.[46] Conductors are in charge of trains and their cargo, and help passengers on
passenger trains.[46] 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.[46] Steam locomotives require a fireman who is
responsible for fueling and regulating the locomotive's fire and boiler. [46] 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 cars.[46] Some trains can operate
with automatic train operation without a driver directly present.[47]

Gauge

A narrow gauge train in Austria

Around the world, various track gauges 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, defined as 1,435 mm (4 ft 8.5 in)
between the rails, is the most common gauge worldwide, though both broad-
gauge and narrow-gauge trains are also in use.[48] 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.[49]

Safety
 Most derailments, such as this one in Switzerland, are

minor and do not cause injuries or damage. Trains

carrying hazardous materials display information identifying their cargo and hazards.
This tank car carrying chlorine displays, among other markings, a U.S. DOT
placard showing a UN number that identifies the hazardous substance.[50]
Train accidents sometimes occur, including derailments (when a train leaves the tracks)
and train wrecks (collisions between trains). Accidents were more common in the early
days of trains, when railway signal systems, centralized traffic control, and failsafe
systems to prevent collisions were primitive or did not yet exist.[51] To prevent accidents,
systems such as automatic train stop are used; these are failsafe systems that apply the
brakes on a train if it passes a red signal and enters an occupied block, or if any of the
train's equipment malfunctions.[52][obsolete source] More advanced safety systems, such
as positive train control, can also automatically regulate train speed, preventing
derailments from entering curves or switches too fast.[53]

Modern trains have a very good safety record overall, comparable with air travel. [54] In
the United States between 2000 and 2009, train travel averaged 0.43 deaths per billion
passenger miles traveled. While this was higher than that of air travel at 0.07 deaths per
billion passenger miles, it was also far below the 7.28 deaths per billion passenger miles
of car travel.[55] In the 21st century, several derailments of oil trains caused fatalities,
most notably the Canadian Lac-Mégantic rail disaster in 2013 which killed 47 people
and leveled much of the town of Lac-Mégantic.[56]

The vast majority of train-related fatalities, over 90 percent, are due to trespassing on
railroad tracks, or collisions with road vehicles at level crossings.[57] Organizations such
as Operation Lifesaver have been formed to improve safety awareness at railroad
crossings, and governments have also launched ad campaigns. Trains cannot stop
quickly when at speed; even an emergency brake application may still require more
than a mile of stopping distance. As such, emphasis is on educating motorists to yield to
trains at crossings and avoid trespassing.[58]
Motive power
Main article: Locomotive

Garratt locomotives in Zimbabwe

Before steam
The first trains were rope-hauled, gravity powered or pulled by horses.[9]

Steam
Steam locomotives work by burning coal, wood or oil fuel in a boiler to heat water into
steam, which powers the locomotive's pistons which are in turn connected to the
wheels.[59] In the mid 20th century, most steam locomotives were replaced by diesel or
electric locomotives, which were cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable.[60] Steam
locomotives are still used in heritage railways operated in many countries for the leisure
and enthusiast market.[61][globalize]

Diesel
Diesel locomotives are powered with a diesel engine, which generates electricity to
drive traction motors. This is known as a diesel–electric transmission, and is used on
most larger diesels.[62] Diesel power replaced steam for a variety of reasons: diesel
locomotives were less complex, far more reliable, cheaper, cleaner, easier to maintain,
and more fuel efficient.[60]

Electric

Swiss Electric locomotive at Brig, Switzerland

Electric trains receive their current via overhead lines or through a third rail electric
system, which is then used to power traction motors that drive the wheels.[63] Electric
traction offers a lower cost per mile of train operation but at a higher initial cost, which
can only be justified on high traffic lines. Even though the cost per mile of construction is
much higher, electric traction is cheaper to operate thanks to lower maintenance and
purchase costs for locomotives and equipment.[63] Compared to diesel locomotives,
electric locomotives produce no direct emissions and accelerate much faster, making
them better suited to passenger service, especially underground.[63][64]

Other types

A gas turbine locomotive operated by the Union Pacific

Railroad
See also: Alternative fuel locomotive
Various other types of train propulsion have been tried, some more successful than
others.

In the mid 1900s, gas turbine locomotives were developed and successfully used,
though most were retired due to high fuel costs and poor reliability. [65]

In the 21st century, alternative fuels for locomotives are under development, due to
increasing costs for diesel and a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from
trains. Examples include hydrail (trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells) and the use of
compressed or liquefied natural gas.[66][67]

Train cars
Main article: Railroad car

Various types of railroad cars in a classification yard in

the United States
Train cars, also known as wagons, are unpowered rail vehicles which are typically
pulled by locomotives. Many different types exist, specialized to handle various types of
cargo. Some common types include boxcars (also known as covered goods wagons)
that carry a wide variety of cargo, flatcars (also known as flat wagons) which have flat
tops to hold cargo, hopper cars which carry bulk commodities, and tank cars which
carry liquids and gases. Examples of more specialized types of train cars include bottle
cars which hold molten steel,[68] Schnabel cars which handle very heavy loads,
and refrigerator cars which carry perishable goods.[69][70]

Early train cars were small and light, much like early locomotives, but over time they
have become larger as locomotives have become more powerful.[68]

Passenger trains
Main article: Passenger train

Second-class compartment of a China Railways CRH1A-

A train
A passenger train is used to transport people along a railroad line. These trains may
consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or
carriages) hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self propelled
passenger trains are known as multiple units or railcars. Passenger trains travel
between stations or depots, where passengers may board and disembark. In most
cases, passenger trains operate on a fixed schedule and have priority over freight
trains.[71] In Europe, passenger trains are assinged to different train categories.

Passenger trains can be divided into short and long distance services.

Long distance trains

Main article: Inter-city rail
Long distance passenger trains travel over hundreds or even thousands of miles
between cities. The longest passenger train service in the world is Russia's Trans-
Siberian Railway between Moscow and Vladivostok, a distance of 9,289 kilometers
(5,772 mi).[72] In general, long distance trains may take days to complete their journeys,
and stop at dozens of stations along their routes. For many rural communities, they are
the only form of public transportation available.[73]

Short distance trains

Short distance or regional passenger trains have travel times measured in hours or
even minutes, as opposed to days. They run more frequently than long distance trains,
and are often used by commuters. Short distance passenger trains specifically designed
for commuters are known as commuter rail.[74]

High speed trains

Main article: High-speed rail

The Japanese 0 Series Shinkansen pioneered high

speed rail service.
High speed trains are designed to be much faster than conventional trains, and typically
run on their own separate tracks than other, slower trains. The first high speed train was
the Japanese Shinkansen, which opened in 1964.[75] In the 21st century, services such
as the French TGV and German Intercity Express are competitive with airplanes in
travel time over short to medium distances.[76]

A subset of high speed trains are higher speed trains, which bridge the gap between
conventional and high speed trains, and travel at speeds between the two. Examples
include the Northeast Regional in the United States, the Gatimaan Express in India, and
the KTM ETS in Malaysia.

Luxury trains
Main article: Luxury train
Luxury trains provide permium rail services on their journey, either within a given
country or across country borders. Some use refurbished classic rail cars.

Rapid transit trains

A number of types of trains are used to provide rapid transit to 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.[77]

Rapid transit trains that operate in tunnels below ground are known as subways,
undergrounds, or metros. Elevated railways operate on viaducts or bridges above the
ground, often on top of city streets. "Metro" may also refer to rapid transit that operates
at ground level. In many systems, two or even all three of these types may exist on
different portions of a network.[citation needed]
 The New Orleans Streetcar System is one of the oldest
in the world.
Trams
Main article: 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. [78]

Light rail
Main article: Light rail

Škoda Artic light rail train near the cathedral in Tampere,

Finland
Light rail is a catchall term for a variety of systems, which may include characteristics of
trams, heavier passenger trains, and rapid transit systems.[78]

Specialized trains
There are a number of specialized trains which differ from the traditional definition of a
train as a set of vehicles which travels on two rails.

Monorail

A Tokyo Monorail train

Main article: Monorail
Monorails were developed to meet medium-demand traffic in urban transit, and consist
of a train running on a single rail, typically elevated. Monorails represent a small
proportion of the train systems in use worldwide. Almost all monorail trains use linear
induction motors[failed verification][79][non-primary source needed][80][unreliable source?]

Maglev
Main article: Maglev
Maglev technology uses magnets to levitate the train above the track, reducing friction
and allowing higher speeds.[81] The first commercial maglev train was an airport
shuttle introduced in 1984 at Birmingham Airport in England.[82][failed verification]

The Shanghai maglev train, opened in 2002, is the fastest commercial train service of
any kind, operating at speeds of up to 431 km/h (268 mph).[83] Japan's L0 Series maglev
holds the record for the world's fastest train ever, with a top speed of 603.0 kilometers
per hour (374.7 mph).[84] Maglev has not yet been used for inter-city mass transit routes,
with only a few examples in use worldwide as of 2019.[83]

Mine trains
Main article: Mine railway
Mine trains are operated in large mines and carry both workers and goods. They are
usually powered by electricity, to prevent emissions which would pose a health risk to
workers underground.[85][globalize]

A preserved armored train

Militarized trains
Main articles: Armoured train and Railway gun
While they have long been important in transporting troops and military equipment,
trains have occasionally been used for direct combat. Armored trains have been used in
a number of conflicts, as have railroad based artillery systems.[86][87] Railcar-launched
ICBM systems have also been used by nuclear weapon states.[88]

Rack railway
Main article: Rack railway
For climbing steep slopes, specialized rack railroads are used. In order to avoid
slipping, a rack and pinion system is used, with a toothed rail placed between the two
regular rails, which meshes with a drive gear under the locomotive.[89]
Funicular
Main article: Funicular
Funiculars are also used to climb steep slopes, but instead of a rack use a rope, which
is attached to two cars and a pulley.[90] The two funicular cars travel up and down the
slope on parallel sets of rails when the pulley is rotated. This design makes funiculars
an efficient means of moving people and cargo up and down slopes. [91] The earliest
funicular railroad, the Reisszug, opened around 1500.[91]

Rubber-tired train
Main articles: Rubber-tyred metro and Rubber-tyred tram
Rubber tire trains, or rubber-tired metro systems, employ rubber tires for traction and
guidance, offering advantages like better acceleration and reduced noise. However,
they come with disadvantages, including higher costs for installation and maintenance,
faster tire wear, and complex tire inflation mechanisms that require regular upkeep.
Nonetheless, these systems are utilized in many urban rapid transit networks
worldwide, enhancing passenger comfort and urban transportation efficiency.

Freight trains
Main articles: Rail freight transport and Freight train

A Union Pacific freight train; high

clearances enable double-stacked containers to be carried in well cars.
Freight trains are dedicated to the transport of cargo (also known as goods), rather than
people, and are made up of freight cars or wagons. Longer freight trains typically
operate between classification yards, while local trains provide freight service between
yards and individual loading and unloading points along railroad lines.[92] Major origin or
destination points for freight may instead be served by unit trains, which exclusively
carry one type of cargo and move directly from the origin to the destination and back
without any intermediate stops.[93]

Under the right circumstances, transporting freight by train is less expensive than other
modes of transport, and also more energy efficient than transporting freight by road. In
the United States, railroads on average moved a ton of freight 702 kilometers (436 mi)
per gallon of fuel, as of 2008, an efficiency four times greater than that of
trucks.[94][95] The Environmental and Energy Study Institute estimates that train
transportation of freight is between 1.9 and 5.5 times more efficient than by truck, and
also generates significantly less pollution.[63] Rail freight is most economic when goods
are being carried in bulk and over large distances, but it is less suited to short distances
 and small loads.[95] With the advent of containerization, freight rail has become part of
an intermodal freight network linked with trucking and container ships.[96]

The main disadvantage of rail freight is its lack of flexibility and for this reason, rail has
lost much of the freight business to road competition. Many governments are trying to
encourage more freight back on to trains because of the community benefits that it
would bring.[97]

Cultural impact

A wooden toy train set from Swedish manufacturer Brio

From the dawn of railroading, trains have had a significant cultural impact worldwide.
Fast train travel made possible in days or hours journeys which previously took months.
Transport of both freight and passengers became far cheaper, allowing for networked
economies over large areas.[98] Towns and cities along railroad lines grew in importance,
while those bypassed declined or even became ghost towns.[98][99] Major cities such
as Chicago became prominent because they were places where multiple train lines
met.[100] In the United States, the completion of the first transcontinental railroad played a
major role in the settling of the western part of the nation by non-indigenous migrants
and its incorporation into the rest of the country.[101] The Russian Trans-Siberian
Railway had a similar impact by connecting the vast country from east to west, and
making travel across the frozen Siberia possible.[102]

Trains have long had a major influence on music, art, and literature.[103] Many films
heavily involve or are set on trains.[104] Toy train sets are commonly used by children,
traditionally boys.[105][106] Railfans are found around the world, along with hobbyists who
create model train layouts.[107] Train enthusiasts generally have a positive relationship
with the railroad industry, though sometimes cause issues by trespassing. [107]

See also

 Trains portal

 List of railway companies

 Lists of named passenger trains
 Lists of rail accidents
 Overview of train systems by country
 Train ferries
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Bibliography
 Glancey, Jonathan (2005). The Train. Carlton Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-84442-
345-3.
 Herring, Peter (2000). Ultimate Train. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-4610-
3. OCLC 42810706. OL 8155464M.
External links
 The dictionary definition of train at Wiktionary
 Media related to Trains at Wikimedia Commons
 tips for rail travel travel guide from Wikivoyage

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