Service between a central city and its suburbs, running on a railroad right-of-way. Examples include the Sound Transit's commuter rail system in Puget Sound, Metrolink in Los Angeles, California and British Columbia's West Coast Express.
The portion of passenger railroad operations that carries passengers within urban areas, or between areas and their suburbs, but differs from rail rapid transit in that passenger cars generally are heavier, average trip lengths are longer, and operations are carried out over tracks that are part of the existing freight railroad system in the area.
Short-haul rail passenger service operating in metropolitan and suburban areas on trackage that is usually part of the general railroad system.
Urban/suburban passenger train service for short-distance travel between a central city and adjacent suburbs run on tracks of a traditional railroad system. Does not include heavy- or light-rail transit service.
Train service that usually operates only during rush hours and midday to take suburban commuters to jobs close in, and back again
Urban passenger train service for short-distance travel between a central city and adjacent suburbs. Does not include rapid-rail transit or light-rail service.
Local and regional passenger train service between a central city, its suburbs and/or another central city, operating primarily during commutes hours. Designed to transport passengers from their residences to their job sites. Differs from rail rapid transit in that the passenger cars generally are heavier, the average trip lengths are usually longer, and the operations are carried out over tracks that are part of the railroad system. (Sacramento Regional Transit District)
A passenger train transit service that utilizes diesel-electric or electrically propelled trains, operating over existing railway trackage on the same rights-of-way used by intercity railway freight and passenger trains. Fare collection is typically on board the train by cash or ticket, and boarding is normally from low platforms. Commuter rail normally accommodates mainly the longest-distance trips made within metropolitan regions during weekday peak travel periods at high overall average operating speeds of typically between 30 and 50 miles per hour, with relatively few station stops. Typical commuter rail routes range from 20 to 50 miles in length with train stations further apart (typically 5 or more miles). Also referred to as Regional Rail.
Train service that operates between the cities and adjacent suburbs.
Term goes back to 1850s (according to Derailed) when railroads started running local trains between small towns and nearby cities, they "commuted" fares, or substituted lower fares in place of standard charges. Through the 1960s the term was applied to those who traveled short distances between work in the morning and home at night. The APTA (American Public Transportation Association) defines commuter rail as long haul rail passenger service operating between metropolitan and suburban areas.
A rail transit system that uses diesel power. These were developed in order to reduce highway traffic and pollution. The Trinity Railway Express, the commuter rail in the Dallas area, operates two kinds of trains: Rail Diesel Cars (RDCs), which are self-propelled, diesel-powered units, and double-decked passenger coaches powered by locomotives. Train configurations vary depending upon time of day.
Railroad local and regional passenger train operations between a central city, its suburbs and/or another central city. It may be either locomotive-hauled or self-propelled, and is characterized by multi-trip tickets, specific station-to-station fares, railroad employment practices and usually only one or two stations in the central business district. Also known as "suburban rail".
A transit mode that is an electric or diesel propelled railway for urban passenger train service consisting of local, short distance travel typically operating between a central city and adjacent suburbs. Commuter rail is characterized by locomotive propelled railroad passenger cars (i.e., Amtrak) and usually has only 1 or 2 stations in the central business district (CBD). Commuter rail examples are the Long Island Railroad in New York and Tri-Rail in South Florida.
