An express train is a type of

passenger train A passenger train is a train 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 p ...

that makes a small number of stops between its origin and destination stations, usually major destinations, allowing faster service than

local trains Regional rail, also known as local trains and stopping trains, are passenger rail services that operate between towns and cities. These trains operate with more stops over shorter distances than inter-city rail, but fewer stops and faster servi ...

that stop at most or all of the stations along their route. They are sometimes referred to as "fast trains" (or an equivalent term, such as the German ''

Schnellzug A ''Schnellzug'' is an express train in German-speaking countries, where it refers to trains that do not stop at all stations along a line. The term is used both generically and also as a specific train type. In Germany and Austria it is also ref ...

''), meaning that they are faster than other trains on the same route. Though many

high-speed rail High-speed rail (HSR) is a type of rail system that runs significantly faster than traditional rail, using an integrated system of specialised rolling stock and dedicated tracks. While there is no single standard that applies worldwide, lines ...

services are express, not all express trains are "fast" relative to other services; early trains in the 19th-century

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

were categorized as express trains as long as they had a "journey speed" of at least . Express trains sometimes have higher fares than other routes, and bearers of a

rail pass A rail pass is a pass that covers the cost of train travel in a certain designated area or areas within a certain period of time. It is contrasted to a point-to-point ticket in that it allows the holder unlimited travel, within the pre-designated a ...

may be required to pay an extra fee. First class may be the only one available. Some express train routes that overlap with local train service may stop at stations near the tail ends of the line. This can be done, for example, where there is no supplemental local service to those stations. Express train routes may also become local when it is most practical to do so, such as during the night.

References

External links

Brief history of express/local combination service on Chicago's North Side Main Line

Passenger rail transport Trains {{Rail-transport-stub

See also

References

External links