Személyvonat

In Europe, railway companies assign trains to different categories or train types depending on their role, i.e. based on the used rolling stock, their speed ( high-speed, higher-speed, conventional), distance of travel (long, medium, short), stopping frequency (Inter-city, limited express, express, limited-stop, regional, commuter) and other criteria. Train categories/types often have specific abbreviations (e.g. IC). In addition, different lines or individual trains may be numbered. The abbreviations (and numbers) are usually indicated in timetables, passenger information systems and sometimes also on the destination sign of the train. There is no common classification scheme throughout Europe; each country has its own, although categories of internationally operating trains are used across borders (e.g. EC).

A train type is not essentially a trademark name. However, there are trademark names that are also used as train types, such as the VogtlandExpress (VX) or the former CityNightLine (CNL) and Cisalpino (CIS).

This article lists European countries with their respective passenger train categories. Goods trains have their own train types and are not considered here. Passenger trains may be broadly split into long-distance and local trains; the latter having average journey times of under an hour and a range of less than . Often, long-distance trains require different tickets and/or seat reservation.

International trains are commonly classified as EuroCity (EC), while domestic Inter-city rail services frequently run as InterCity (IC). Most night trains operate under the EuroNight (EN) or Nightjet (NJ) category.

Exceptionally, trains are neither publicly classified nor numberered in the United Kingdom, but rather the brand of the operating company is used. In Russia, trains are only numbered and the number's digits defines the train's category.

European long-distance and high-speed rail brands

Former

Austria and Germany

Austria

The table below summarizes train categories in Austria:

Germany

The following train categories exist in Germany:

Private operators

Belgium

In Belgium, the following train categories exist:

Bulgaria

Train categories in Bulgaria use the simplified model of the previous century. At the beginning of rail transport in Bulgaria there were only three categories of passenger trains: Бърз пътнически влак (БПВ) – Barz patnicheski vlak (Fast passenger train), the equivalent of the current Fast train; Обикновен пътнически влак (ОПВ) – Obiknoven patnicheski vlak (Regular passenger train), the equivalent of the current Passenger train and Смесен пътнически влак (СПВ) – Smesen patnicheski vlak, the equivalent of Mixed train. Using this basis BDŽ now provides extended variety of these simple categories.

;ЕВ – Експресен влак kspresen vlak– Express train
: EV – Trains for medium and long distances, which stop only at the most major stations (in big cities or for a train connection). They provide higher comfort in the carriages and usually have catering and/or restaurant car. All the express trains used to have names (e.g. "Plovdiv Express", "Yantra Express", "Chaika Express", "Express Slanchev Bryag", "Diana Express" etc.) and sometimes unique livery, different from the other trains. There were also first-class-only trains (Express 100/101 "Plovdiv"). Because of an introduced regulation the average speed of the express trains to be at least 100 km/h, all the express trains became BVZR trains. Tariff: same as BVZR.
:Reservation: obligatory. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class, restaurant car (or catering), sometimes luggage and/or mail car. Four of the express trains ("Shipka" and "Sinite kamani") used DMUs.
:''Currently not in service.''
;УБВ – Ускорен бърз влак skoren barz vlak– literally "Accelerated fast train"
: UBV – Trains for long distances, which stop only at one or two major stations in-between. They ran seasonally only between the capital and the seaside on Fridays and Sundays. For a short period of time this category was used as a synonym of BVZR trains. Tariff: same as BVZR.
:Reservation: obligatory. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class, bistro car.
:''Currently not in service.''
; БВЗР – Бърз влак със задължителна резервация arz vlak sas zadalzhitelna rezervatsia– Fast train with obligatory reservation (also seen as R-БВ or БВ-R)
: BVZR – Trains for medium and long distances, which stop only at major stations. Usually former Express trains. Their average speed is not more than 100 km/h. Some of these also have names, but with the word "express" removed. Tariff: The tariff for BVZR is the most expensive in Bulgaria. The price for 100 km in 2nd class is 8,70 BGN (4,45 EUR) and 10,90 BGN (5,57 EUR) in 1st class. Reservation costs 0,50 BGN (0,26 EUR). Some trains could be more expensive on partisular dates.
:Reservation: obligatory. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class; in the past: restaurant or buffet car (or catering), sometimes luggage and/or mail car.
; МБВ – Международен бърз влак ezhdunaroden barz vlak– International fast train
: MBV – International trains have different terms of service. There are regular, seasonal and extra MBV trains as well as trains for only international journeys and ones that could be used as regular BV trains in the country.
:Tariff: Internal: same as BV; international: according to the contracts with the other countries.
:Reservation: Internal: optional; international: obligatory. Coaches: international cars + cars for internal journeys (2nd class, sometimes 1st class, in the past: luggage and/or mail car). DMUs are also used between Bulgaria and Romania.
; БВ – Бърз влак arz vlak– Fast train
: BV – Trains for medium and long distances, which stop only at major stations but more than express trains.
:Tariff: According to the tariff for BV the price for 100 km in 2nd class is 5.90 BGN (3.02 EUR) and 7.40 BGN (3.78 EUR) in 1st class. Reservation costs 0.50 BGN (0.26 EUR). Some trains could be more expensive on partisular dates.
:Reservation: optional. Coaches: 1st class, 2nd class; sleepers and couchette cars during the night; in the past: sometimes restaurant or buffet car, luggage and/or mail car. Sometimes EMUs or DMUs are also used.
; ПВ – Пътнически влак atnicheski vlak– Passenger train
: PV – Trains for distances, longer than 100 km, which stop at every station.
:Tariff: According to the tariff for PV the price for 100 km in 2nd class is 5.20 BGN (2.66 EUR) and 6.50 BGN (3.32 EUR) in 1st class. Currently 1st class is not available on passenger trains. Some trains could be more expensive on partisular dates.
:Reservation: not available. Coaches: 2nd class; in the past: sometimes luggage and/or mail car; in case of first-class cars coupled, the taxes are the same as second-class ones. Frequently operated by EMUs or DMUs.
; КПВ – Крайградски пътнически влак raigradski patnicheski vlak– Local passenger train
: KPV – Trains for distances, shorter than 100 km, which stop at every station. Frequently operated by EMUs or DMUs. Tariff: same as PV.
:Reservation: not available. Coaches: 2nd class; in the past: sometimes luggage and/or mail car; in case of first-class cars coupled, the taxes are the same as second-class ones.
;СВ – Смесен влак mesen vlak– Mixed train
: SV – Trains for short and medium distances with both passenger and freight carriages. They stop at every station and usually it is for a long time, because of the cargo services. Tariff: same as PV.
:Reservation: not available. Coaches: same as PV + freight waggons.
:''Currently not in service.''

Croatia

There are several different ranks of passenger trains operating inside Croatia by (Croatian Railways' sub-division responsible for passenger transport), as follows.

Since a large number of fast, semi fast, regional and local trains have commuter-oriented schedules, they often offer passengers daily migration to the large city areas from more distant towns and settlements – between – and vice versa. This can, for example, refer to the railway connection of the Central Croatia's wider region with Zagreb metropolitan area.

Czech Republic

The following train categories are present in the Czech Republic:

Private operators

Denmark

In Denmark, the following train categories are used:

;Light rail

;Metro

Finland

The list below includes train categories in Finland:

NOTE: Long-distance trains are identified (in passenger information systems) by train number prefixed with the train type abbreviation (e.g. "IC 90"). However, the Helsinki region commuter trains are identified by their "route letters" only (e.g. "K") and usually do not show their train number to passengers at all.

France

The national carrier of France, the SNCF, uses a different system of train categories, based on politics wishes and commercial trademarks. The categories do not necessarily match with distance.

Greece

There are three types of passenger rail services in Greece:
* InterCity (IC) between Thessaloniki, Athens and Kalambaka, with two-digit train numbers
* Express trains (Greek: Ταχεία), with three-digit train numbers
* "Regular" trains (, ), with four-digit train numbers

In addition, suburban train networks are present in Athens (with lines numbered A1–A4), Patras (lines P1 and P2) and Thessaloniki (lines T1–T3).

A night train, named ''Hellas Express'', links Thessaloniki with Belgrade (Serbia), via Skopje (North Macedonia).

Hungary

In Hungary, there are the following train categories:

Ireland

Four different train categories are operated in the Republic of Ireland, by both Iarnród Éireann and NI Railways.
* D.A.R.T: Rapid transit train network in Dublin.
*Commuter: Suburban services operated around major cities in Ireland.
*Intercity: National long-distance or local services operated between cities.
*Enterprise: International long-distance service operated jointly by NI Railways and Iarnród Éireann between Dublin's Connolly station and Belfast Grand Central station in Northern Ireland (UK).

Italy

Train categories without * are all operated by Trenitalia, Italy's primary rail carrier. Regional and local trains, which are financed by administrative regions, are also used by regional railways (generally isolated from the national railway network).

Luxembourg

Because of its small size and its location, Luxembourg has more international trains than national ones.

Some trains are considered both Luxembourgish (by the CFL, according to their map) and from the border country the train is from or crossing (like L and P trains from Belgium, TER from France, RE from Germany), no matter if these trains are really from Luxembourg or not, making these trains more difficult to classify. These difficulties are due to the assimilation of each train as Regional-Express or InterRegio in Luxembourg (similar name in Germany and Belgium, specific name in France).

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the following train categories exist:

Norway

In Norway, there are the following train categories:

Poland

The following train categories are present in Poland:

Portugal

Trains in Portugal run under the following categories (sorted by operator):
;Comboios de Portugal (state owned operator)

;Fertagus (private operator)

Romania

In Romania, there are the following train categories:

Russia

In Russia, the train category is defined by its number's digits.

Serbia

In Serbia, trains run under the following categories:

Slovakia

Train categories in Slovakia are as follows:

Slovenia

The following train categories exist in Slovenia:

Spain

In Spain, railway services are categorized as follows:

Sweden

The SJ X2 is the only train operating in Sweden which is developed as a high-speed train. Other fast trains (EMUs) are developed as regional trains, but delivered with a maximum speed of .

Switzerland

There are several railway companies in Switzerland, with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS), BLS and ''Südostbahn'' (SOB) operating the largest standard gauge networks and Rhaetian Railway (RhB) and MGB running the largest narrow gauge networks.
, the following categories exist:

Ukraine

The following train categories are present in Ukraine:

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom's railway network is unusual in not publicly numbering or classifying its trains, except by the brand of the operating company. This may approach a classification system on lines where the express and local services are operated by different companies:
* Great Eastern Main Line: all services are operated by Greater Anglia, except for urban local services between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. These services form the eastern leg of the Elizabeth line, all legs of which are operated by MTR Elizabeth line.
* Lea Valley Lines: services on the main route, regardless of stopping pattern, are operated by Greater Anglia. The Southbury Loop and Chingford branch routes are operated by London Overground.
* East Coast Main Line:
** A variety of companies run intercity trains on the East Coast Main Line, of which the principal operator is London North Eastern Railway.
** Regional services are run as Govia Thameslink Railway as far as Peterborough, Northern between Darlington and Chathill, & Abellio ScotRail from Dunbar.
** London suburban services are operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.
* West Coast Main Line:
** Avanti West Coast is the dominant brand of intercity trains.
** Stopping & semi-fast services are run by West Midlands Trains & branded as London Northwestern Railway from London Euston as far as the junction for the Liverpool Lime Street branch, & by Northern between Wigan North Western & Preston.
** Suburban services in London are run by London Overground, while those in Lanarkshire are operated by ScotRail.
* Great Western Main Line: suburban services of London are operated by MTR Crossrail as the western leg of the Elizabeth line. All other trains, including Bristol's suburban network, are operated by Great Western Railway.
* Regional and regional express trains of Wales and suburban trains of Cardiff are operated by Transport for Wales Rail. The country's two intercity routes, through the Severn Tunnel and along the North Wales Coast Line, are operated by Great Western Railway and Avanti West Coast respectively.
* Brighton Main Line: Govia Thameslink Railway runs airport express trains under a dedicated brand (Gatwick Express). Other trains are branded by destination: those going via London Blackfriars are branded as Thameslink, others as Southern.
* In the North of England, local and suburban trains are almost exclusively run by Northern and regional express services by TransPennine Express.
* In Scotland, all trains not running to/from England are operated by ScotRail.
* In Northern Ireland, rail services are operated by NI Railways. Enterprise, a long-distance service between Grand Central station in Belfast and Connolly station in Dublin, is jointly operated by NI Railways and Iarnród Éireann.

In scheduling, trains are classified as ''express'', ''local'', ''sleeper'', ''international'' or ''metro'' trains. However, these are not shown in passenger-facing publications, and express trains can have stopping sections calling at consecutive minor stops, acting as a local service on the section. For example, all trains run on the Thameslink core between London St Pancras and London Blackfriars, no matter express or local, call at all intermediate stations between them,Departure board of London Blackfriars to London St Prancas
/ref> creating a frequent metro-like service as an alternative to London Underground for travelling in central London.

For most longer distance services (such as the inter-city trains operated by CrossCountry), advance tickets are sold and seat reservations can be made. While on shorter services (e.g. South Western Railway Weymouth – London services), sometimes only counted-place reservations can be made but not for a specific seat for advance tickets, and on even shorter suburban services (e.g. South Western Railway Guildford – London stopping services), no reservation can be made at all and no advance tickets can be sold.

Former Yugoslavia

In Yugoslavia, the following train categories were used:
; Eurocity
: international high-class trains
; Intercity
: trains used on national and international services on important long-distance routes
; Intercity nagibni
: Croatian Railways tilting train
; Poslovni voz/vlak
: Intercity – similar to express trains, usually 1st class only
; Brzi voz/vlak
: Express trains on long-distance routes, national and international
; Zeleni vlak
: Former Slovenian express multiple-unit connexions, also cross-border
; Ubrzani vlak
: semi-fast (like German '' Eilzug'')
; Putnički voz, Lokalni voz, Potniški vlak
: Regional train stopping at all station, usually multiple unit trains

Other European countries

* Iceland: No railway lines.
* Malta: No railway lines.
* Principality of Andorra: No railway lines.
* Principality of Liechtenstein: Only one railway line with three operational railway stations that are only served by an ''S-Bahn'' (S) service of the Austrian ÖBB.
* Principality of Monaco: Only one railway line and a single railway station, served by TGV inOui and TER PACA of the French SNCF.
* San Marino: Only a heritage railway line.
* : Only one railway line with one terminal railway station that is served by a regional train of the Italian Trenitalia.

See also

* Passenger rail terminology
* Sleeper trains in Europe
* High-speed rail in Europe
* Eurail travel pass
* Interrail travel pass
* European Timetable
* The Man in Seat Sixty-One
* List of metro systems in Europe
* History of rail transport

Footnotes and References

{{Rail transport in Europe

Passenger rail transport
Rail transport in Europe