Definition: Light rail
Transport
A railway for the transport of passengers that often uses electrically powered rail-borne cars operating singly or in short trains on fixed duo-rail lines. Stations/stops generally have a distance between them of less than 1 200 m.
In comparison to metros, light rail is more lightly constructed, is designed for lower traffic volumes and usually travels at lower speeds.
It is sometimes difficult to make a precise distinction between light rail and trams; trams are generally not separated from road traffic, whereas light rail may be separated from other systems.
Source:
Glossary For Transport Statistics, Eurostat, ECMT, UN/ECE, Third edition
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