Definition: Metro

Transport

An electric railway for the transport of passengers with the capacity for a heavy volume of traffic and characterised by exclusive rights-of-way, multi-car trains, high speed and rapid acceleration, sophisticated signalling to allow a high frequency of trains, and high platform load. 

Metros are also characterised by frequent stations, normally meaning a distance of 700 - 1 200 m between the stations.

Note:"High speed" refers to the comparison with trams and light rail, and means here approximately 30-40 km/h on shorter distances, 40-70 km/h on longer distances.

Also known as "subway", "metropolitan railway" or "underground". <a href="">http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/statmanuals/files/KS-BI-03-002-__-N-EN.pdf</a> <a href=""><a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/pri/en/oj/dat/2003/l_167/l_16720030704en00130016.pdf" target="_blank">Commission Regulation No 1192/2003 on rail transport statistics</a></a>