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In some regions of the world, especially Europe, the train is often the preferred method of getting from city to city. In others, like India, it is often the sole alternative to spine-jarring rides on dirty, sweaty buses. Sometimes, travel by train simply offers a more pleasurable and enjoyable method of getting where you are going.... more »
If you have ever been to the Chiba prefecture of Japan, where Narita International Airport is located, chances are you have taken one of the trains from the airport to get to where you needed to go. Given the level of consideration and respect that the Japanese culture is known for, it is incredulous to think that there are those who... more »
Any standard insurance plan you have will not cover the cost of travel outside of the United States or any medical bills you acquire while in other countries. There are separate insurance plans you can purchase but they are generally only available for young healthy individuals without medical conditions. If you are a senior and you... more »
Whether your interests lie in cosmopolitan cities, caves, hot springs, mountains, lakes, wine or green pastures as far as the eye can see, there is a good chance that New Zealand has something to offer nearly every visitor. Planning a trip to New Zealand is a lot easier than it might seem. And, given the recent airfare deals to... more »
The biggest airport in Rome, Fiumicino (also called Leonardo da Vinci), is not actually in Rome. It stands about 20 miles away, near an otherwise rural town called Fiumicino. Once you land at the airport, you still have a rather long journey to make. Cabs are very costly, the direct train less so. The very cheapest way to get from... more »
Riding the rails has a certain romance to it dating back to the days of the steam engines. While...
In this day and age of car and air travel, traveling by train from place to place may seem...
Whether you're backpacking through Europe or staying at luxury resorts in exotic locales, a...
If you'd like to travel but can't bear the thought of leaving your dog, cat, ferret or fish...
Trains are one of the oldest industrial transportation methods, yet engineers continue to develop new rail technologies. For safety reasons,... more »
When traveling in Europe you can lower the cost of both lodging and traveling by taking a "sleeper train" to your destination overnight while you... more »
Do you ever sit in your car at a railroad crossing, waiting for a freight train that never seems to end pass by? Here are some facts to ponder the... more »
If you suffer from motion sickness, then traveling by train can seem like a nightmare. Sufferers of motion sickness will feel nauseated, dizzy or... more »
One of the best ways to get around Europe is by train, since it's relatively affordable and lots of fun. Train travelers need to be extra careful... more »
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track (permanent way) to transport freight or passengers from one place to another. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.
Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate locomotive, or from individual motors in self-propelled multiple units. Most modern trains are powered by diesel locomotives or by electricity supplied by overhead wires or additional rails, although historically (from the early 19th century to the mid-20th century) the steam locomotive was the dominant form of locomotive power. Other sources of power (such as horses, rope or wire, gravity, pneumatics, and gas turbines) are possible.
The word train comes from the Old French trahiner, itself from the Latin trahere pull, draw.
Types of trains
There are various types of train designed for particular purposes.
A train can consist of a combination of one or more locomotives and attached railroad cars, or a self-propelled multiple unit (or occasionally a single powered coach, called a railcar). Trains can also be hauled by horses, pulled by a cable, or run downhill by gravity.
Special kinds of trains running on corresponding special railways are atmospheric railways, monorails, high-speed railways, maglev, rubber-tired underground, funicular and cog railways.
A passenger train may consist of one or several locomotives, and one or more coaches. Alternatively, a train may consist entirely of passenger carrying coaches, some or all of which are powered as a "multiple unit". In many parts of the world, particularly Japan and Europe, high-speed rail is utilized extensively for passenger travel.
Freight trains comprise wagons or trucks rather than carriages, though some parcel and mail trains (especially Travelling Post Offices) are outwardly more like passenger trains.
Trains can also be mixed, comprising both pas read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train
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