(See also Rail Mode, Rapid Rail, Rapid Transit Rail, Transit Mode, Transit Railway) Includes heavy and light transit rail. Heavy transit rail is characterized by exclusive rights-of-way, multi-car trains, high speed rapid acceleration, sophisticated signaling, and high platform loading. Also known as subway, elevated railway, or metropolitan railway (metro). Light transit rail may be on exclusive or shared rights-of-way, high or low platform loading, multi-car trains or single cars, automated or manually operated. In generic usage, light rail includes streetcars, trolley cars, and tramways.
(DOE6)