Light metro

A rapid-transit railway designed for lower passenger capacity and lighter infrastructure than a conventional metro. It often uses automated trains on dedicated tracks.

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Automatic train operation: A system that controls some or all train movements automatically, with or without onboard staff. Light metros often automate train operation to run frequent service with fewer staff.
Copenhagen Metro: An automated rapid-transit system serving Copenhagen and nearby municipalities in Denmark. Its driverless operation and compact trains exemplify a modern light-metro approach.
Rapid transit: Urban passenger rail operating on exclusive or largely separated tracks for frequent, high-capacity service. Light metro is one lower-capacity form within the broader rapid-transit family.
Urban rail transit: Rail-based passenger transport operating within a city or metropolitan area. Light metro is a specialized form of urban rail transit.
Transit capacity: The maximum number of passengers a transport service can carry in a given time. Lower capacity than conventional metro constrains the passenger volumes light metro can handle.
Communications-based train control: A railway signaling system that uses continuous communication between trains and trackside equipment to manage movement. It allows short headways and precise control on many automated light-metro lines.
Docklands Light Railway: An automated light-metro railway serving east and southeast London. It demonstrates how automated trains can serve a dense urban district with lighter infrastructure.
Monorail: A railway whose trains run on or are suspended from a single rail or beam. Monorails can perform similar urban transport roles but use a distinct guideway design.
Railway signaling: Systems that control train movements to maintain safe separation and coordinate railway traffic. Signaling determines how closely light-metro trains can follow one another.
Capital cost: The upfront expenditure required to build or acquire an asset or infrastructure system. Lighter infrastructure can reduce the initial cost of a light-metro project.