Light Rail Vehicles Light Rail Light rail refers to a range of electric rail transit, from the traditional streetcar to more heavy-duty operations which resemble rapid transit. The most important feature of light rail is its flexibility, which has made it increasingly popular in several American cities starting in the early 1980s. Light rail cars can run on city streets, in median strips of divided highways, on railroad tracks, on bridges, on aerial guideways and in tunnels. Most light rail operations use low level platforms, although a few use high level platforms. There are virtually no emissions.
Noise depends on vehicle design, age, maintenance, operating speeds and track conditions.
Most light rail cars are articulated, with a driving cab at both ends. Trains of 1 or 2 cars are common. Very rarely are trains of greater length operated in passenger service. Since 1995, diesel propelled light rail cars became available in Europe. This new technology, which combines the features of the latest in low floor streetcar design with that of diesel freight railways, offers the potential to serve low, dispersed density metropolitan areas that have often been intepreted as being unable to support electric light rail transit.