Light Rail

Lightweight passenger rail cars operating singly (or in short, usually two-car, trains) on fixed rails in right-of-way that is not separated from other traffic for much of the way. Light rail vehicles are driven electrically with power being drawn from an overhead electric line via a trolley or a pantograph. (FTA1)

An electric railway with a "light volume" traffic capacity compared to "heavy rail." Light rail may use shared or exclusive rights-of-way, high or low platform loading, and multi-car trains or single cars. Also known as "Streetcar", "Troller car", and "Tramway". (APTA1)

A streetcar type vehicle operated on city streets, semi-exclusive rights of way, or exclusive rights of way. Service may be provided by step entry vehicles or by level boarding. (49CFR37)

Urban transit which uses predominantly reserved but not always grade-separated rights-of-way. Electrically powered rail vehicles operate alone or in trains. (FTA2)