Sign panel displaying abbreviations of train categoriesInformation display indicating the train's category and number (IC 86)
In Europe, railway companies assign trains to different categories or train types depending on their role,[1] 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 50 kilometres (31mi).[citation needed] Often, long-distance trains require different tickets and/or seat reservation.
Exceptionally, trains are neither publicly classifyed 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.
A train connecting Belgium's major cities. These trains stop at the most important stations only, sometimes crossing national borders as well.
Rush-hour train
P
Additional scheduled train service that is limited to times at which the demand for a certain route is at its highest. The number of stops varies between trains.
Local train
L
Local trains usually connect larger cities, but will stop at (nearly) every station along the way. Similar to German Regionalbahn.
Suburban train connecting towns and cities around Belgium's major cities of Antwerp, Brussels, Charleroi, Ghent and Liege. Stops at (nearly) every station. Each line will have a number (S1–S20 + S81 for Brussels, S1 + S32–S34 for Antwerp, S41–S44 for Liege, S51–S53 for Ghent, and S61–S64 for Charleroi).
Tourist train
T
Additional scheduled train service that is limited to times at which the demand for a certain touristic destination is at its highest. The number of stops varies between trains.
Extra train
EXT
Additional train service, used in case of exceptionally good weather to accommodate more passengers on routes to the coast or in case of special events such as concerts.
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.
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 100km/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.
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.
БВЗР – Бърз влак със задължителна резервация [Barz 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 100km/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 100km 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 [Mezhdunaroden 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 [Barz 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 100km 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.
PV – Trains for distances, longer than 100km, which stop at every station.
Tariff: According to the tariff for PV the price for 100km 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.
KPV – Trains for distances, shorter than 100km, 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 [Smesen 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.
There are several different ranks of passenger trains operating inside Croatia by HŽ Putnički prijevoz (Croatian Railways' sub-division responsible for passenger transport), as follows.[5]
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 50 and 100km (31 and 62mi) – and vice versa. This can, for example, refer to the railway connection of the Central Croatia's wider region with Zagreb metropolitan area.
These trains are rare in Croatia. They operate on long national and international routes and usually serve only the largest stations along the way. Currently, the only InterCity services in Croatia are Zagreb – Budapest and Zagreb – Osijek.
Tilting train services connecting Zagreb with Split during the day, also serving decent amount of larger stations along their route. Thanks to this technology, they can run faster than conventional trains. Contrary to regular overnight fast trains between Zagreb and Split with scheduled travelling time of circa 8 hours in total, tilting trains on the Zagreb–Split route (lines M202 and M604) offer passengers journeys with a riding times of about 6 hours.
Brzi
B
Fast trains operating on medium to long distances, serving only stations in larger settlements along the track. Their purpose is very similar to InterCity trains.
Ubrzani
Ubrzani (lit.'accelerated') trains operate on medium to long distances and their purpose is to serve destinations which have justified number of passengers. Functionally, they are similar and use the same rolling stock as the slower passenger trains, but they skip certain smaller stations.
Putnički
Putnički (lit.'passenger') trains cover short, medium and long distances and generally serve all stations along their route, representing the largest part of passenger trains on the nationwide level. They are mainly used by local residents traveling between smaller settlements and larger centres/railway hubs or by those who want to continue their journey further using mostly well-adjusted transfers – in both cases for daily migrations (school, work, hospital, shopping, etc.) or other reasons. These trains usually have daily frequencies that meet the needs of the local population.
Prigradski
Prigradski (lit.'suburban') trains operate exclusively on the Zagreb Commuter Rail corridor and have the most frequent daily schedules of all types of train lines in Croatia. They are run by light motor sets that can be started and stopped quickly, and like the most of regional/local trains, they serve every station along their way. On the train lines operating within suburban areas of other larger towns, certain number of regional/local trains play the role of suburban trains.
The highest category of national trains, with carriages and stopping frequencies comparable to the EC trains. Currently, the IC category is used by the private railway company RegioJet as well as České dráhy.
Express
Ex
Faster trains linking regions, mostly faster and more comfortable than the R trains.
Rychlík
R
The lowest category of longer-distance train. Operates on R lines. They are mainly used for getting between districts of a region.
Spěšný vlak
Sp
Local trains stopping on selected stations only. Operates on S lines.
Osobní vlak
Os
Local trains stopping at every station. Operates on S lines. It is often centered around a larger city (often capital of a region).
Class EB (Siemens Vectron) electric locomotives Class ME diesel-electric locomotives Class BK/B/ABS (Bombardier TWINDEXX Vario) double-decker cars Class ER (IR4) EMUs Class MG (IC4) DMUs
Electric multiple units, some rush hour trains are locomotive hauled with "red" cars from the 1980s
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.
SNCF uses a different system of train categories, based on politics wishes[clarification needed] and commercial trademarks. The categories do not necessarily match with distance.
High-speed trains between France and Italy operated by Trenitalia France, previously named Thello (a then newly created society owned by Transdev and the FS after breaking an alliance between the SNCF and the FS).
National InterCity services, ever on main lines and/or secondary lines without supplementary fare. Similar to the InterRegio or the Intercity (Paris – Caen – Cherbourg and Paris – Rouen – Le Havre). Used to be called Train Inter Regional, but this name has become obsolete.
These trains are subsidized by regions and do not designate a precise category: a TER route can be anything from 15km (9.3mi) to more than 400km (250mi) long. Some TER routes are longer than TGV ones. Regional or national services, on main lines or secondary lines without supplementary fare. Used to be similar to the S-Bahn (many stops from a major city on a short distance, urban or suburban service), the Regional or RegioExpress, but can be also similar to the InterRegio-Express or the InterRegio (Orléans – Lyon and Toulouse – Clermont-Ferrand).
TERGV
Some special regional trains, called TERGV (TER and TGV), consist of TGV trains subsidized for regional service, though with a supplementary fare compared to the same trip using standard TER service. These trains use the high speed lines (LGV) to quickly link cities such as Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne-sur-Mer to Lille in an hour.[6] Similar services in Europe include Southeastern's Highspeed service.
Train categories without * are all operated by Trenitalia. Regional and local trains, which are financed by administrative regions, are also used by regional railways (generally isolated from the national railway network).
Local or interregional trains only stopping at a few selected stations. Includes also the Regio Express (RE) for the Merano-Malles line (South Tyrol), managed by * SAD,[12] and for RE lines in Lombardy operated by * BLS and * TILO/Trenord.[13]
Regionale
R
Basic local train, equates to the German Regionalbahn.
Mostly abandoned category, but still used by Circumvesuviana (a group of narrow-gauge railways connecting towns to the south-east of Naples) and by Società Subalpina Imprese Ferroviarie for the cross-border Domodossola–Locarno railway.Trains operate within one or more contiguous regions.
Direttissimo
ACC
Mostly abandoned category, but still used by Circumvesuviana. Stops at all stations.
Accelerato
DD
Mostly abandoned category, but still used by Circumvesuviana. Characterized by only a few stops and high speed, but without the surcharge.
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).[citation needed]
Brand used by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) for trains linking cities across the country, not calling at every station. Trains to Berlin are also branded Intercity. Typically calling at 25–50% of the intermediate stations they pass. Intercities are comparable to the InterRegio used in many European countries. Some call at every station for a part of their run near their terminus ("zone train").
Sneltrein
—
Brand used by operators other than NS on the regional railways for trains comparable to the Intercity, but typically running shorter distances.
Sprinter
—
NS brand, since 2018 also used by other operators, for local trains calling at (almost) every station on the mainline railway.
Stoptrein
—
Brand used by operators other than NS for local trains calling at (almost) every station on all stations that are not located on the regional railways.
International luxurious trains on the most important long-distance routes, must be reserved on domestic routes, up to 160km/h (99mph), operated by PKP Intercity.
Express Intercity Premium
EIP
High-speed, highest-standard trains requiring reservation. Made of modern train units operating on national routes, operated by PKP Intercity using units ED250 Pendolino.
Luxurious trains in national services on the most important long-distance routes that must be reserved, with speeds up to 160km/h (99mph). Operated by PKP Intercity.
Trains of new EMUs and refurbished coaches, more comfortable than TLK, in national services on the most important long-distance routes, with speeds up to 160km/h (99mph). Operated by PKP Intercity.
A few trains between Warsaw and Łódź; cheaper than "TLK", but usually with lower standard, 2nd class only. Operated by Polregio. Rolling stock composed of refurbished EMUs of late 1960s design. Speed is up to 120km/h (75mph).
Fast tilting trains used on the main north–south lines, only stopping at major intermediate cities with a top speed of 220km/h (140mph). Surcharge payable.
InterCidades
IC
InterCity trains used on main lines, stopping only at main towns with a top speed of 200km/h (120mph). Surcharge payable.
It ensures the connection, in domestic or international traffic, between the country's capital Bukarest and the county seat cities, defined by Law no. 2/1968 on the administrative organization of the territory of Romania, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions. Speeds are up to 160km/h (99mph).
Intercity night
IC-N
It ensures the connection, in domestic or international traffic, between the country's capital and the county seat cities, defined by Law no. 2/1968 on the administrative organization of the territory of Romania, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions, and they passed through the night. They can also be put into circulation without first class or second class services.
It ensures the connection between the urban localities of rank 0, I and II defined by annex no. II point 3.8 of Law no. 351/2001 regarding the approval of the National Land Development Plan - Section IV - The network of localities, with subsequent amendments and additions, and the tourist resorts of national interest, listed in annex no. 5 of Government Decision no. 852/2008 for the approval of the rules and criteria for the attestation of tourist resorts, with subsequent amendments and additions. They can also be put into circulation without first class services. The average commercial/train speed is at least 45km/h (28mph). Convenient connections with other passenger trains will be provided at the main railway stations and junctions.
Interregio night
IR-N
It ensures the connection between the urban localities of rank 0, I and II defined by annex no. II point 3.8 of Law no. 351/2001 regarding the approval of the National Land Development Plan - Section IV - The network of localities, with subsequent amendments and additions, and the tourist resorts of national interest, listed in annex no. 5 of Government Decision no. 852/2008 for the approval of the rules and criteria for the attestation of tourist resorts, with subsequent amendments and additions. The average commercial/train speed is at least 45km/h (28mph). Convenient connections with other passenger trains will be provided at the main railway stations and junctions. They can also be put into circulation without first class or second class services.
Regio Expres
R-E
It ensures the connection between localities located at a maximum driving distance of 230km (140mi) or the first railway station, if this distance is exceeded. It has stops in railway stations that serve localities with a number of 2,500 inhabitants together with the neighboring areas, ensuring the need for mobility in that area. It provides connections to/from interregional trains. The average commercial speed is in principle at least 40km/h (25mph). They can also be put into circulation without first class services.
Regio
R
It ensures transport conditions for limited geographical areas, the maximum distance of circulation being 200km (120mi) or the first railway station, if this distance is exceeded.
It has stops at all stations, halts and stops along the route, if the platforms are laid out in compliance with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI). Regional trains will be requested and routed at a sufficient time interval to allow boarding/disembarking of passengers to/from connecting trains at railway stations/junctions. The average commercial speed is in principle at least 35km/h (22mph). They can also be put into circulation without first class services.
Regio Metrolopitan
R-M
It provides transport around major cities, for suburban (commuter) traffic, meets the transport needs of an urban center or a conurbation and nearby/adjacent areas, with a maximum travel distance of 40km (25mi) or the first railway station, if this distance is exceeded. The average commercial speed is in principle at least 30km/h (19mph). They can also be put into circulation without first class services.
In Russia, the train category is defined by its number's digits.
№
Name
Role
1to150
Skory
Skory (lit.'fast') are all-year long-distance fast trains, mostly overnight. Speed is up to 160km/h (99mph), but usually the average speed is not more than 70km/h (43mph).
151to298
Skory Sezonny
Skory Sezonny (lit.'fast seasonal') are seasonally operating fast trains, mostly similar to Skory.
301to450
Passazhirsky Dalny
Passazhirsky Dalny (lit.'long-distance passenger') are long-distance stopping trains.
451to498
Passazhirsky Dalny Sezonny
Passazhirsky Dalny Sezonny (lit.'long-distance passenger seasonal') are only seasonally operating Passazhirsky Dalny train services.
501to598
Passazhirsky Dalny Razovy
Passazhirsky Dalny Razovy (lit.'long-distance passenger one-time') are additional or organized children groups carrying Passazhirsky Dalny services.
601to698
Passazhirsky Mestny
Passazhirsky Mestny, lit.'local (medium-distance) passenger', are stopping trains travelling distances more than 150km (93mi), but less than 700km (430mi).
Mainline passenger trains featuring DMU / (out of the EMU-served Skorostnoy's and (all served by EMUs) Vysokoskorostnoy's) EMU rolling stock. Mostly fast versions of Passazhirsky Mestny.
6001to6998
Prigorodny
Prigorodny (lit.'suburban') are suburban trains with a travelling distance of up to 150km (93mi), calling at (almost) all-stops.
7001to7598
Skory Prigorodny ili Gorodskoy
Skory Prigorodny ili Gorodskoy (lit.'semi-fast suburban or urban') are semi-fast suburban and urban trains.
Highest-standard trains requiring reservation, operated by modern ČD Class 680 „Pendolino“ tilting train units of České dráhy (ČD), operating on both national and international routes in cooperation with ČD.
High quality, usually long-haul international services between Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Germany. Surcharge payable when travelling with domestic ticket.
This category is used for long-distance domestic express trains between Košice and Bratislava, the two largest cities of the country.
Rýchlik
R
"Fast train" – trains for longer routes, usually stops at all towns en route, but not at villages. However, there are also night trains between Humenné and Bratislava and from Košice to Nové Zámky.
Local semi-fast train stopping at few stations, modern version of Zrýchlený vlak. Note that this category is also used by Leo Express between Komárno and Bratislava.
Zrýchlený vlak
Zr
Semi-fast train, stopping on most stations. It was mostly replaced by Regional Express; Zr run from Banská Bystrica to Margecany.
High quality international trains which operate along major international routes and connect important economic and tourist hubs in Slovenia and Europe. Journey times of EC trains are shorter and have fewer stops. Most of them have air-conditioned carriages and offer catering services. An additional supplement is required for travel on EC trains.
High quality international night trains, which include sleepers and couchettes. A supplement is required for a bed or berth. For travel on a domestic EN, as with IC trains, it is necessary to pay a supplement for a seat in a standard carriage. On certain EN trains which operate across Europe, standard international prices apply together with a reservation fee.
Modern air-conditioned trains whose tilting technology allows for greater speed and comfort. They enable easier travel for passengers in wheelchairs, as well as offering a range of additional services. A buffet car is available to passengers; for those who travel 1st class, this service is free. 1st class passengers also benefit from access to electrical plug sockets. At some stations free parking is available. ICS trains operate on the Ljubljana–Maribor–Ljubljana route. In the summer season and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, ICS trains also operate along the Maribor-Ljubljana-Koper route and back. Seats must be reserved on all routes and this is included in the rail fare.
High quality trains which operate on long-distance domestic and international routes and connect major cities, and commercial and tourist centres. They consist of comfortable carriages, and have shorter journey times with fewer stops. Most of them also offer catering services. IC services require an additional IC supplement.
Local Train
LP
Connects Slovenian towns on shorter and longer routes. These are intended primarily for daily journeys to and from work or school. Seat reservations and supplements are not required to travel on these trains.
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 200km/h (120mph).
Rc locomotive-hauled, national and international trains with standard-seating carriages in both first and second class and a bistro car.[17]
Regionaltåg
Regional trains on the Stockholm–Örebro–Gothenburg, Gothenburg–Karlstad and Gothenburg–Kalmar lines. Operated with either Rc-hauled trainsets or X40EMUs. These trains have no catering on board. The X40 is equipped with free 4G WiFi. Both first and second-class are usually offered.[18]
International long-distance (partly high-speed) trains, mainly of SBB, to destinations in Austria, Germany and Italy. Typically RABe 501 or ETR 610 trainsets are used (Transalpin is pulled by Re 420).
Long-distance trains, fast connection (partly high-speed) between major cities in Switzerland by SBB (one DB service to Germany: Zürich HB–Schaffhausen–Stuttgart Hbf). Since 2018, all lines are numbered. Includes SBB RABDe 500tilting trains, which previously ran under their own category (ICN). Otherwise, Re 460-hauled IC 2000push-pull trains of SBB are typically used.
Switzerland's main train category. Long-distance train, fast connection between regions and centers in Switzerland (and Konstanz, Germany). All IR lines are numbered since 2018. Rolling stock varies but includes RABe 502 and RABe 511 trainsets of SBB, RABe 528 of BLS or RABe 526 of SOB.
Fast regional train, does not call at all stations. Operates mainly in Switzerland, but some lines extend to Germany, France and Italy. All RE lines are numbered since 2023. Frequently SBB's RABe 511 are used.
Fast trains in regional, local and suburban transport, operating with short clock cycles in the metropolitan areas of Basel, Bern, Chur, Lucerne, Schaffhausen, St. Gallen, Zug, Zurich and in Aargau. Some services extend to stations in Austria, France and Germany. TILO offers S-Bahn-like services in Ticino and Lombardy, Italy. In the French-speaking part of Switzerland, lines either use the letters R (RER Fribourg, RER Vaud) or L (Léman Express) instead of the letter S. All lines are numbered.
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 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.
In scheduling, trains are classified as express, local, sleeper, international or metro trains.[20] 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,[21] 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.
Commuter rail or suburban rail is a passenger rail transport service that primarily operates within a metropolitan area, connecting commuters to a central city from adjacent suburbs or commuter towns. Commuter rail systems can use locomotive-hauled trains or multiple units, using electric or diesel propulsion. Distance charges or zone pricing may be used.
Thameslink is a mainline route on the British railway network, running from Bedford, Luton, St Albans City, Peterborough, Welwyn Garden City, London Blackfriars and Cambridge via central London to Sutton, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Rainham, Horsham, Three Bridges, Brighton and East Grinstead. The network opened as a through service in 1988, with severe overcrowding by 1998, carrying more than 28,000 passengers in the morning peak. All the services are currently operated by Govia Thameslink Railway. Parts of the network, from Bedford to Three Bridges, run 24 hours a day, except on early Sunday mornings and during maintenance periods.
Inter-city rail services are express trains that run services that connect cities over longer distances than commuter or regional trains. They include rail services that are neither short-distance commuter rail trains within one city area nor slow regional rail trains stopping at all stations and covering local journeys only. An inter-city train is typically an express train with limited stops and comfortable carriages to serve long-distance travel.
Gatwick Express is an express rail passenger service between London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton in South East England. It is the brand name used by the Govia Thameslink Railway train operating company on the Gatwick Express route of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise.
Intercity Express is a high-speed rail system in Germany. It also serves destinations in Austria, France, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands as part of cross-border services. It is the flagship of the German state railway, Deutsche Bahn. ICE fares are fixed for station-to-station connections, on the grounds that the trains have a higher level of comfort. Travelling at speeds up to 300 km/h (190 mph) within Germany and 320 km/h (200 mph) when in France, they are aimed at business travellers and long-distance commuters and marketed by Deutsche Bahn as an alternative to flights.
Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited, trading as South West Trains (SWT), was an English train operating company owned by Stagecoach, which operated the South Western franchise between February 1996 and August 2017.
First class is the most luxurious and most expensive travel class of seats and service on a train, passenger ship, airplane, bus, or other system of transport. Compared to business class and economy class, it offers the best service and most comfortable accommodation.
The Siemens Desiro is a family of diesel or electric multiple unit passenger trains developed by Siemens Mobility, a division of the German Siemens AG conglomerate. The main variants are the Desiro Classic, Desiro ML, Desiro UK and the later Desiro City, Desiro HC and Desiro RUS. The trains are mostly used for commuter and regional services, and their rapid acceleration makes them suitable for services with short distances between stations. The design is flexible, and has become common in many European countries.
InterCity is the classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe. Such trains generally call at major stations only.
Various terms are used for passenger railway lines and equipment; the usage of these terms differs substantially between areas:
Rail transport in Japan is a major means of passenger transport, especially for mass and high-speed travel between major cities and for commuter transport in urban areas. It is used relatively little for freight transport, accounting for just 0.84% of goods movement. The privatised network is highly efficient, requiring few subsidies and running with extreme punctuality, though since privatisation several unprofitable but socially valuable lines have been closed by private operators.
Transport express régional is the brand name used by the SNCF, the French national railway company, to denote rail service run by the regional councils of France, specifically their organised transport authorities. The network serves French regions; Île-de-France (Transilien) and Corsica (CFC) have their own specific transport systems. Every day, over 800,000 passengers are carried on 5,700 TER-branded trains.
PKP Intercity is the subsidiary of the PKP Group responsible for long-distance rail passenger transport in Poland. It operates around 350 trains daily, connecting large agglomerations and smaller towns in Poland. It offers its services under TLK, InterCity, Express Intercity and Express Intercity Premium brands. The company also provides most international rail connections to and from the country. In 2023, the company reported an 18.2% of market share in terms of total number of served passengers in the country.
Transilien is the brand name given to the commuter rail network serving Île-de-France, the region surrounding and including the city of Paris. The network consists of nine lines: H, J, K, L, N, P, R, U, and V each operated by SNCF, the state-owned French railway company. The lines begin and end in major Parisian stations, except for lines U and V which connect major stations outside the Paris city borders. Unlike the RER network, the Transilien trains do not cross through the Paris city centre.
Réseau Saint-Lazare is the network of railway lines originating from Saint Lazare Station in Paris. The network stretches from Paris to Normandy and encompasses suburban services. Parisian suburban rail services are operated under SNCF's brand name Transilien. Intercity services are also operated by SNCF but under the brand name Corail.
TER Provence Alpes-Côte-d'Azur, branded as TER Zou!, is the regional rail network serving the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in France. This network is operated by SNCF, although services between Nice and Marseille will instead be operated by a subsidiary of Transdev from June 2025, after winning a competitive tender held by the region in 2021. The public transport authority, the Regional Council, runs 800 trains a day, especially near Avignon, Marseille, Toulon and Nice. 100,000 users take regional trains each day.
Gare de Paris Bercy, officially Gare de Paris Bercy Bourgogne – Pays d'Auvergne, is one of the seven mainline railway station terminals in Paris. It handles about 4.3 million passengers annually according to the estimates of the SNCF, making it the least busy mainline station in Paris.
Rail transport in France is marked by a clear predominance of passenger traffic, driven in particular by high-speed rail. The SNCF, the national state-owned railway company, operates most of the passenger and freight services on the national network managed by its subsidiary SNCF Réseau. With a total of 29,901 kilometres (18,580 mi) of railway, France operated the second-largest European railway network in 2007. As of 2021, it was among the ten longest railway networks in the world.
Brive-la-Gaillarde is a railway station serving the town of Brive-la-Gaillarde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. The station opened on 17 September 1860 and is located on the Orléans–Montauban railway, Coutras–Tulle railway, Brive-Toulouse railway and Nexon-Brive railway.
The SNCF Class Z 5600 is a double-deck electric multiple unit trainset that is operated by SNCF on line C of the Réseau Express Régional (RER), a hybrid suburban commuter and rapid transit system serving Paris and its Île-de-France suburbs and the TER Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regional rail system.
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