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In rail transport, a train is a vehicle or (more frequently) a string of vehicles capable of being moved along a continuous line of rails or other guideway for the purpose of conveying freight or passengers between points on a predetermined route. The train may be hauled or propelled by one or more vehicles designed exclusively for that purpose (locomotives) or may be driven by a number of motors incorporated in all or several of the vehicles (multiple units).

As of 2018^[update], there are approximately 1,051,767.605 kilometres (653,538.091 mi) of railway track in use worldwide. (World Bank (via Archive.org))

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Selected article of the week

The E-class trams are three-section, four-bogie articulated trams that were first introduced to the Melbourne tram network in 2013. They are built at the Dandenong works of Bombardier, with the propulsion systems and bogies coming from Bombardier factories in Germany. The E-class is part of the Tram Procurement Program, a Public Transport Victoria project aimed at increasing capacity and reliability of the tram network through the introduction of new trams, creation of new depot space, and upgrades to existing infrastructure. In September 2010, 50 were ordered with an option to purchase a further 100. In May 2015, a further 20 were ordered, followed by additional orders for 10 in May 2017, September 2018 and May 2019, taking the total to 100. The first tram was delivered in June 2013 and, after testing, entered service on route 96 on 4 November 2013. As of November 2020^[update], 90 are in service.

Recently selected: Durham–UNH station - Dunellen station - Dublin tramways

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Railfans crowd around a train on the Nine Arch Bridge in Sri Lanka in May 2020.

Recently selected: COMSA iron ore train - Korail freight train - dumping the fire in South Africa

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Did you know...

...that DB Cargo UK was founded in 1995 as North & South Railways, owned by a consortium headed by Wisconsin Central?
...that camping coaches have been available for rent at Dawlish Warren railway station intermittently since 1935?
...that a brick wall in the car park at Dawlish railway station is the remains of the engine house that powered trains worked by atmospheric power in the 1840s?
...that the original course of the Torquay portion of the Dartmouth and Torbay Railway route proved controversial as it would have used a coastal viaduct at Livermead?

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Selected anniversaries

November 4

1895 – Nippon Railway begins operations on the Tsuchiura Line between Tsuchiura and Tomobe.
2003 – A new intermodal service is inaugurated between Aiton, France, and Orbassano (near Turin), Italy, to transport complete trucks (both the tractor and trailer) and their loads like other rolling highway services (pictured); the trains include coach seating for the truck drivers as well.

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Train News

July 24, 2021 – Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe No. 2926, a 4-8-4 steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1944, moves under its own power for the first time since Christmas Eve of 1953, after nearly twenty-two years of being rebuilt by volunteers. The locomotive will be put into mainline excursion service. (NMSL&RHS, Trains Magazine on Facebook)
May 5, 2021 – Steamtown National Historic Site completes thorough cosmetic overhaul on Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy No. 4012, which is moved back on static display before National Train Day. (NEPA Scene)
April 2, 2021 – 2021 Hualien train derailment – A Taroko Express train operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) derails at the north entrance of Qingshui Tunnel in Heren Section, Xiulin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan, killing 49 people and injuring at least 200 others. North of Hualien City a construction truck had fallen down a slope onto the tracks. The eight-carriage train derailed after colliding with the truck, and then came to a rest in the tunnel, with severe damage and many casualties. (Bloomberg, CNN, CNA, New York Times, Financial Times)

December 31, 2020 – Following a complete restoration, Chesapeake and Ohio 1309, a 2-6-6-2 Mallet locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1949, the last steam locomotive built by Baldwin for the North American market, is operated under its own power for test runs. When returned to service on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, it will be the largest steam locomotive in regular scheduled service in the United States and take 2-8-0 No. 734’s place as the largest active steam locomotive in the state of Maryland. (Trains.com Newswire)

September 28, 2020 – Amtrak operates a test run using one of the 28 new Avelia Liberty trains manufactured by Alstom along the full length of the Northeast Corridor to Boston South Station. Previous test runs had occurred from Washington, D.C., only as far north as New Jersey and Delaware. Barring any problems, the trains are expected to enter regular service on the route in 2021. (Universal Hub)

June 13, 2020 – The Bay Area Rapid Transit Silicon Valley BART extension opened its stations in Milpitas and North San Jose. (San Jose Spotlight, SF Gate)

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General images

The following are images from various train-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1The BB 9200 hauled Le Capitole at 200 km/h. (from High-speed rail)
Image 2Map of first Mexican rail line between Veracruz and Mexico City (from History of rail transport)
Image 3Peak Tram of Hong Kong (from List of heritage railways)
Image 4Grand Trunk's Bonaventure Station, Montreal, 1900s (from History of rail transport)
Image 5A replica of a "Little Eaton Tramway" wagon, the tracks are plateways. (from History of rail transport)
Image 6The German Fliegender Hamburger (from High-speed rail)
Image 7Cast iron rails of the Alexandrovsky plant railway in Russia. 1788. (from History of rail transport)
Image 8Historic steam on the Rigi Railways, the oldest rack railway in Europe (from List of heritage railways)
Image 9A replica of Trevithick's engine at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea (from History of rail transport)
Image 10A container train passing through Jacksonville, Florida, with 53 ft (16.15 m) containers used for shipments within North America (from Rail freight transport)
Image 11E6 and E5 series Shinkansen models (from High-speed rail)
Image 12V150 train, modified TGV, conventional world speed record holder (574.8 km/h or 357.2 mph) (from High-speed rail)
Image 13Polish locomotive Pm36-1 (140 km/h) dated 1937. (from History of rail transport)
Image 14Mixed freight running downhill in Caliente, California (from Rail freight transport)
Image 15Diagram of Priestman Oil Engine from The Steam engine and gas and oil engines (1900) by John Perry (from History of rail transport)
Image 16A maglev train on the Yamanashi Test Track, November 2005 (from High-speed rail)
Image 17Old type of steam-hauled freight train in 1964 (from Rail freight transport)
Image 18Freight train on the Suihua–Jiamusi Railway in Yichun, Heilongjiang (from Rail freight transport)
Image 19A container train in Germany (from Rail freight transport)
Image 20The Spanish AVE AVE Class 102 "Pato" (duck) (from High-speed rail)
Image 21The First Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869. (from History of rail transport)
Image 22A German high-speed line, with ballastless track (from High-speed rail)
Image 23Freight train in Rostov Oblast, Russia (from Rail freight transport)
Image 24Minecart shown in De Re Metallica (1556). The guide pin fits in a groove between two wooden planks. (from History of rail transport)
Image 25Cast iron fishbelly edge rail manufactured by Outram at the Butterley Company ironworks for the Cromford and High Peak Railway (1831). These are smooth edgerails for wheels with flanges. (from History of rail transport)
Image 26Chinese CRH380A high speed train (from High-speed rail)
Image 27Development of the network up to 1860 (from History of rail transport)
Image 28Map of Russian railroads in 1916 (from History of rail transport)
Image 29Rail Passengers in Great Britain from 1829–2021, showing the rapid rise in passenger numbers in the 19th century (from History of rail transport)
Image 30Train in Arizona, with 20-, 40- and-53 foot containers double stacked in well cars (from Rail freight transport)
Image 31A typical U.S. classification yard in Denver, Colorado. Intermodal terminal is on the right. (from Rail freight transport)
Image 32A prototype of a Ganz AC electric locomotive in Valtellina, Italy, 1901 (from History of rail transport)
Image 33Mexican railway bridge, an example of engineering that overcame geographical barriers and allowed efficient movement of goods and people. (from History of rail transport)
Image 34The German ICE 1 (from High-speed rail)
Image 351907 map showing the projected Chicago–New York Electric Air Line Railroad (from High-speed rail)
Image 36Metroliner trains developed in the U.S. for rapid service between New York and Washington, DC (from High-speed rail)
Image 37Iron ore train in Mauritania (from Rail freight transport)
Image 38The German DB Class 103 (from High-speed rail)
Image 39Coal awaiting shipment to an electric generating plant in Germany (from Rail freight transport)
Image 40A replica of the Planet, which ran on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway from 1830 (from History of rail transport)
Image 41Spanish high speed services (from High-speed rail)
Image 42Taiwan high-speed rail, derived from the Shinkansen (from High-speed rail)
Image 43A long grain train of the Union Pacific Railroad crossing a bridge in Washington state, United States (from Rail freight transport)
Image 44Baltimore & Ohio electric engine (from History of rail transport)
Image 45The original 0 series Shinkansen train. Introduced in 1964, it reached a speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). (from High-speed rail)
Image 46The Frecciarossa ETR 1000 at the Venezia Santa Lucia railway station. (from High-speed rail)
Image 47The German 1903 record holder (from High-speed rail)
Image 48Bulk freight car scales at the MMA Mack Point yard, Searsport, Maine (from Rail freight transport)
Image 49The Old Patagonian Express (from List of heritage railways)
Image 50Cepu Forest Railway – Du Croo & Brauns locomotive (from List of heritage railways)
Image 51Lichterfelde tram, 1882 (from History of rail transport)
Image 52The Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line in Japan, with Mount Fuji in the background. The Tokaido Shinkansen, which connects the cities of Tokyo and Osaka, was the world's first high-speed rail line. (from High-speed rail)
Image 53One power-car of the gas-turbine prototype "TGV 001" (from High-speed rail)
Image 54Map of railways of the Iberian peninsula (1921) (from History of rail transport)
Image 550-Series Shinkansen, introduced in 1964, triggered the intercity train travel boom. (from History of rail transport)
Image 56Variety of rolling stock in rail yard (from Rolling stock)
Image 57The TGV at 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph) in 2007 (from High-speed rail)
Image 58The British Salamanca locomotive, 1812 (from History of rail transport)
Image 59The Locomotion at Darlington Railway Centre and Museum (from History of rail transport)
Image 60The Italian ETR 200 (from High-speed rail)
Image 61High-speed line on a viaduct to avoid ramp and road-crossing, with a British Rail Class 373 from Eurostar in old livery crossing it. (from High-speed rail)
Image 62Fond de Gras railway station, Luxembourg (from List of heritage railways)
Image 63Ventspils narrow-gauge railway (from List of heritage railways)
Image 64The Acela Express (from High-speed rail)
Image 65The Korean-developed KTX Sancheon (from High-speed rail)
Image 66The 1909 map of railways in India (from History of rail transport)
Image 67Russian railroads construction by year 1837–1989 (from History of rail transport)
Image 68Burlington Zephyr passenger train (from High-speed rail)
Image 69Reisszug, as it appears today (from History of rail transport)
Image 70L0 Series Shinkansen, unconventional world speed record holder (603 km/h or 374.7 mph) (from High-speed rail)
Image 71Károly Zipernowsky (from High-speed rail)
Image 72Tren a las Nubes (from List of heritage railways)
Image 73The Odakyu 3000 series SE (from High-speed rail)
Image 74Friedrich List's concept for a German railway net from 1833 (from History of rail transport)
Image 75Freight trains wait for departure in Zhengzhou, China (from Rail freight transport)
Image 76A map of the world showing regions by principal rail track gauge. (from Rail freight transport)
Image 77The TGV Sud-Est, at the Gare de Lyon, in 1982 (from High-speed rail)
Image 78A German high-speed line being built along a highway (from High-speed rail)
Image 79The FS Frecciarossa 1000 (from High-speed rail)
Image 80First railway line by country (from History of rail transport)
Image 81Swiss & German co-production: world's first functional diesel–electric railcar 1914 (from History of rail transport)
Image 82Catholic priests bless a railway engine in Calais, 1848 (from History of rail transport)
Image 83The French CC 7100, 1955 record holder (from High-speed rail)