Urban rail transit

Urban rail transit carries passengers by rail within cities and their surrounding regions. It includes systems ranging from underground metros to suburban commuter rail.

Railway track: A guided path of rails and supporting structures on which railway vehicles travel. Track geometry and construction set the routes and speeds urban rail can support.
Rapid transit: High-capacity urban rail service operating frequently, usually on a dedicated, grade-separated right of way. This is the fully separated, high-frequency form most closely associated with city metros.
Transit-oriented development: Compact, mixed-use development concentrated around public transport stations. Rail stations can anchor walkable neighborhoods and concentrate new housing and services.
Induced demand: The increase in use of a transport service that occurs when its capacity or convenience improves. New rail capacity can attract trips that would not otherwise have been made or made by rail.
London Underground: A rapid transit network serving London and nearby areas, with its first underground section opening in 1863. It is an early and influential example of urban underground rail.
Railway electrification: The supply of electrical power to railway vehicles through equipment such as overhead wires or a third rail. Electric traction is common in urban service, where acceleration and local emissions matter.
Commuter rail: Passenger rail service connecting a city with suburbs and nearby towns, often over longer distances than metro service. It extends urban rail into surrounding areas with wider station spacing and longer journeys.
Park and ride: A transport arrangement in which people drive to a facility and continue their journeys by public transport. Rail systems use outer stations to connect car-dependent areas to urban services.
Transit ridership: The number of people using a public transport service over a specified period. Ridership indicates how heavily urban rail is used and helps assess service needs.
New York City Subway: A rapid transit system serving New York City, known for extensive service and many routes operating around the clock. Its large, highly connected network illustrates one model of intensive urban rail service.

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