Our city has many modes of transportation, such as buses, subways, light rails, etc., making it convenient to travel anywhere. But do you know the difference between subway and light rail?

Today, Let's explore subways and light rail together.

What is a subway?

The subway is the most commonly encountered means of transportation in our daily lives, but few people know exactly what it represents. A subway is a high-capacity urban rail transit system.

As the name implies, subways are typically constructed in cities with a large population flow. Originating in London in 1863, the subway boasts advantages such as speed, high capacity, and exclusive rights of way. It can achieve a one-way capacity of over 30,000 to 80,000 passengers per hour. However, it's important to understand that subways are not always built underground; in some cities, they may also be elevated due to geographical reasons.

Light rail, on the other hand, is typically used to describe rail transit vehicles with lower passenger capacity and faster mobility. Light rail has its dedicated tracks but may not necessarily be segregated from other vehicles, operating on the ground (such as tramways, and light railways).

According to the international definition given by the UIC (International Union of Railways): Light rail vehicles are traditional steel-wheel trains capable of entering standard mixed-use areas; subways are traditional steel-wheel trains that cannot operate in mixed-use areas.

What does it mean to have the ability to enter standard mixed-use areas? This refers to the concept of shared right-of-way. While light rail has its own fixed tracks, other vehicles can also use these tracks. Subways, however, are more dominant, with their entire tunnel sections exclusively dedicated to them, leaving no room for other vehicles.

Many people think that light rail operates above ground while subways run underground, but this belief is quite inaccurate.

Subways, light rails, and trams are all part of urban passenger rail transit. According to international conventions, subways and light rails are classified as urban rapid rail transit systems.

For clarity, light rail can also operate underground. The simplest and most understandable method of differentiation is based on capacity: light rail and subways are classified based on their passenger capacity. Light rail has a maximum one-way capacity of no less than 10,000 to 30,000 passengers per hour, while subways have a maximum one-way capacity of no less than 30,000 passengers per hour.

Whether it's a subway or light rail, they are both helpful tools in our daily lives. They bring great convenience to our lives, surpassing any other mode of transportation, especially since we don't have to wait for traffic lights, greatly reducing travel time.

With the rapid development of modern technology, transportation methods are becoming increasingly diverse. In addition to the types mentioned, there are also maglev trains, trams, and more. Many more cities are transitioning to the generic term "urban rail transit."