This type of rail operation runs on standard mainline tracks and is timed around peak morning and evening travel hours. Unlike rapid transit or light rail, these trains use heavy conventional equipment, share trackage with freight trains, and operate at higher speeds over longer distances between stations. They are a critical component of regional transportation networks.
We get delayed every afternoon waiting for the outbound commuter rail trains to clear the interlocking.
Related terms
Heavy rail
A transit system or conventional railroad operating on fully separated right-of-ways with high passenger capacity.
Multiple unit
A train configuration where several self-propelled cars are coupled and controlled from a single cab.
Push-pull
A train configuration that can be driven from either end without turning the locomotive.