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Revision as of 05:02, 13 November 2002 by Ortolan88 (talk | contribs) (etymology, more examples)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)A train, in its most common current usage, is the collective word for locomotives and attached cars that run on a railway. A passenger train may consist of one or several locomotives, and one or more cars or carriages. (Trains consisting of a single locomotive and one carriage are rare, but do exist!) Alternatively, a train may consist entirely of passenger carrying coaches, some or all of which are powered. Where such trains consist of a single vehicle, the term railcar is sometimes used. Freight trains comprise wagons or trucks rather than carriages. Multi-purpose trains, hauling both passengers and freight, have become rare in many countries.
Passenger trains travel between stations usually spaced a mile or more apart, possibly spread across several countries. Where passengers are carried, a dining car might be included in the train, giving passengers the option to purchase food whilst travelling. Some carriages may be laid out to allow some passengers to stand or to facilitate the carrying of prams, cycles or wheelchairs. Some countries have some double-decked passenger trains for use in conurbations.
One type of train is the underground train, also called a subway, metro, or tube, used as public transport in several cities. Many cities also have networks of commuter trains, passenger trains that serve the city and its suburbs. The tram is also a kind of train, albeit a relatively small one.
Trains were first utilized during the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, and have been used since to carry heavy loads over land (see rail transport).
Several very famous train routes exist, amongst them the Orient Express and the Trans-Siberian railway.
See also: Public transport
A caravan of wagons, mules or other forms of transport is also called a train.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word train comes from French roots that mean "to drag or draw". Thus, the word also refers to the trailing part of a bride's dress, as well as to a powder train leading to an explosive. The verb to train, meaning "to educate", embodies the idea of drawing the student along.