Train vs. Metro — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 28, 2023
A train is a series of connected vehicles running on rails, while a metro is an urban rapid transit system, often underground.
Difference Between Train and Metro
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A train is a general term used to describe a series of connected vehicles, whether passenger or freight, that travel on railways. They can operate over short or long distances, often crossing state or even country borders. Depending on the purpose, trains vary from luxurious long-distance travel options to simple cargo carriers. On the other hand, a metro, sometimes known as a subway, underground, or tube, is specifically designed for urban areas to provide rapid transit within or around a city.
Train systems can be complex, offering multiple routes, schedules, and types of services. They can include commuter trains, which link suburbs to cities, long-distance intercity trains, and freight trains carrying goods. Metro systems, in contrast, often focus on moving large numbers of people quickly through urban areas. They frequently have more stops than trains and are designed for shorter, more frequent trips.
Speed can vary between a train and a metro. Trains, especially those designed for long distances, can reach very high speeds, whereas metros are designed for quick stops and starts, so they might operate at lower maximum speeds. While a train might pass through varied terrains, metros predominantly operate within city limits and can be underground, at ground level, or elevated.
In terms of infrastructure, train tracks might be found both within cities and in the countryside, passing through various geographical features like mountains, plains, or forests. Metros have infrastructure tailored for urban settings, often with tunnels and elevated tracks to navigate the dense environments of cities.
Comparison Chart
Primary Purpose
Varied, from passenger to cargo transport
Rapid urban transit
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Operational Area
Can operate over vast distances, including intercity
Mostly within or around a city
Typical Environment
Varied terrains, from urban to rural
Urban, often underground or elevated
Speed
Ranges from slow cargo to high-speed intercity trains
Optimized for short distances with frequent stops
Infrastructure
Tracks can be anywhere, from inside cities to rural areas
Tunnels, elevated tracks, and stations in urban areas
Compare with Definitions
Train
A series of connected vehicles traveling on a railway
The train to Boston departs at 9 am.
Metro
A network of high-capacity trains within a city
They built a new metro line to ease traffic congestion.
Train
A transport mechanism for goods or cargo
The coal train passes through the town every afternoon.
Metro
Specifically designed train sets for urban transit
The new metro cars are more energy-efficient.
Train
A train is a form of rail transport consisting of a series of connected vehicles that generally run along a railroad (or railway) track to transport passengers or cargo (also known as "freight" or "goods"). The word train comes from the Old French trahiner, derived from the Latin trahere meaning 'to pull, to draw'.Motive power for a train is provided by a separate locomotive or individual motors in a self-propelled multiple unit.
Metro
A subway or underground railway system
The Paris Metro is known for its unique station designs.
Train
Teach (a person or animal) a particular skill or type of behaviour through sustained practice and instruction
The scheme trains people for promotion
The dogs are trained to sniff out illegal stowaways
Metro
An urban rapid transit system
I take the metro to work every day.
Train
Point or aim something, typically a gun or camera, at
The detective trained his gun on the side door
Metro
An electric railway operating within a city or metropolitan area
The metro gets crowded during rush hour.
Train
Go by train
Charles trained to London with Emma
Metro
(general) A rapid transit rail transport system, or a train in such systems, generally underground and serving a metropolitan area.
Train
Entice (someone).
Metro
(less common) An urban rapid transit rail transport system, normally with lighter track and light trains (i.e. an S-Bahn or similar), or a train in such systems.
Train
A series of connected railway carriages or wagons moved by a locomotive or by integral motors
A freight train
The journey took two hours by train
Metro
A metropolitan area.
Train
A number of vehicles or pack animals moving in a line
A camel train
Metro
Metropolitan
Train
A long piece of material attached to the back of a formal dress or robe that trails along the ground
The bride wore a cream silk dress with a train
Metro
Electric underground railway
Train
A trail of gunpowder for firing an explosive charge.
Train
A series of connected railroad cars pulled or pushed by one or more locomotives.
Train
A long line of moving people, animals, or vehicles.
Train
The personnel, vehicles, and equipment following and providing supplies and services to a combat unit.
Train
A part of a gown that trails behind the wearer.
Train
A staff of people following in attendance; a retinue.
Train
An orderly succession of related events or thoughts; a sequence.
Train
A series of consequences wrought by an event; aftermath.
Train
A set of linked mechanical parts
A train of gears.
Train
A string of gunpowder that acts as a fuse for exploding a charge.
Train
To coach in or accustom to a mode of behavior or performance.
Train
To make proficient with specialized instruction and practice.
Train
To prepare physically, as with a regimen
Train athletes for track-and-field competition.
Train
To cause (a plant or one's hair) to take a desired course or shape, as by manipulating.
Train
To point or direct (a gun or camera, for example) at something.
Train
To let drag behind; trail.
Train
To give or undergo a course of training
Trained daily for the marathon.
Train
To travel by railroad train.
Train
Elongated or trailing portion.
Train
The elongated back portion of a dress or skirt (or an ornamental piece of material added to similar effect), which drags along the ground.
Unfortunately, the leading bridesmaid stepped on the bride's train as they were walking down the aisle.
Train
A trail or line of something, especially gunpowder.
Train
The tail of a bird.
Train
(obsolete) The tail of an animal in general.
Train
(poetic) The elongated body or form of something narrow and winding, such as the course of a river or the body of a snake.
Train
(astronomy) A transient trail of glowing ions behind a large meteor as it falls through the atmosphere or accompanying a comet as it nears the sun; tail.
Train
An animal's trail or track.
Train
Something dragged or laid along the ground to form a trail of scent or food along which to lure an animal.
Train
(obsolete) Gait or manner of running of a horse.
Train
Connected sequence of people or things.
Train
A group of people following an important figure such as a king or noble; a retinue, a group of retainers.
Train
A group of animals, vehicles, or people that follow one another in a line, such as a wagon train; a caravan or procession.
Our party formed a train at the funeral parlor before departing for the burial.
Train
A group or class of people.
Train
(military) The men and vehicles following an army, which carry artillery and other equipment for battle or siege.
Train
A sequence of events or ideas which are interconnected; a course or procedure of something.
Train
A set of things, events, or circumstances that follow after or as a consequence; aftermath, wake.
Train
(obsolete) State of progress, status, situation (in phrases introduced by in a + adjective); also proper order or situation (introduced by in or in a alone).
In a fair / better / worse train
Train
A set of interconnected mechanical parts which operate each other in sequence.
Train
A series of electrical pulses.
Train
A series of specified vehicles (originally tramcars in a mine as usual, later especially railway carriages) coupled together.
Train
A mechanical (traditionally steam-powered, now typically diesel or electrical) vehicle carrying a large number of passengers and freight along a designated track or path; a line of connected cars or carriages considered overall as a mode of transport; (as uncountable noun) rail or road travel.
The train will pull in at midday.
Train
A long, heavy sleigh used in Canada for the transportation of merchandise, wood, etc.
Train
(computing) A software release schedule.
Train
An act wherein series of men line up and then penetrate a person, especially as a form of gang rape.
Train
Treachery; deceit.
Train
A trick or stratagem.
Train
A trap for animals, a snare; (figuratively) a trap in general.
Train
A lure; a decoy.
Train
A live bird, handicapped or disabled in some way, provided for a young hawk to kill as training or enticement.
Train
(obsolete) train oil, whale oil.
Train
(intransitive) To practice an ability.
She trained seven hours a day to prepare for the Olympics.
Train
(transitive) To teach and form (someone) by practice; to educate (someone).
You can't train a pig to write poetry.
Train
(intransitive) To improve one's fitness.
I trained with weights all winter.
Train
(intransitive) To proceed in sequence.
Train
(transitive) To move (a gun) laterally so that it points in a different direction.
The assassin had trained his gun on the minister.
Train
To encourage (a plant or branch) to grow in a particular direction or shape, usually by pruning and bending.
The vine had been trained over the pergola.
Train
To trace (a lode or any mineral appearance) to its head.
Train
To create a trainer for; to apply cheats to (a game).
Train
To draw (something) along; to trail, to drag (something).
Train
To trail down or along the ground.
Train
To draw by persuasion, artifice, or the like; to attract by stratagem; to entice; to allure.
Train
To draw along; to trail; to drag.
In hollow cubeTraining his devilish enginery.
Train
To draw by persuasion, artifice, or the like; to attract by stratagem; to entice; to allure.
If but a dozen FrenchWere there in arms, they would be as a callTo train ten thousand English to their side.
O, train me not, sweet mermaid, with thy note.
This feast, I'll gage my life,Is but a plot to train you to your ruin.
Train
To teach and form by practice; to educate; to exercise; to discipline; as, to train the militia to the manual exercise; to train soldiers to the use of arms.
Our trained bands, which are the trustiest and most proper strength of a free nation.
The warrior horse here bred he's taught to train.
Train
To break, tame, and accustom to draw, as oxen.
Train
To lead or direct, and form to a wall or espalier; to form to a proper shape, by bending, lopping, or pruning; as, to train young trees.
He trained the young branches to the right hand or to the left.
Train
To trace, as a lode or any mineral appearance, to its head.
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
The first Christians were, by great hardships, trained up for glory.
Train
To be drilled in military exercises; to do duty in a military company.
Train
To prepare by exercise, diet, instruction, etc., for any physical contest; as, to train for a boat race.
Train
That which draws along; especially, persuasion, artifice, or enticement; allurement.
Train
Hence, something tied to a lure to entice a hawk; also, a trap for an animal; a snare.
With cunning trains him to entrap un wares.
Train
That which is drawn along in the rear of, or after, something; that which is in the hinder part or rear.
Train
That part of a gown which trails behind the wearer.
Train
A number of followers; a body of attendants; a retinue; a suite.
The king's daughter with a lovely train.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts.
Train
The after part of a gun carriage; the trail.
Train
A consecution or succession of connected things; a series.
The train of ills our love would draw behind it.
Rivers nowStream and perpetual draw their humid train.
Other truths require a train of ideas placed in order.
Train
The tail of a bird.
Train
Regular method; process; course; order; as, things now in a train for settlement.
If things were once in this train, . . . our duty would take root in our nature.
Train
The number of beats of a watch in any certain time.
Train
A line of gunpowder laid to lead fire to a charge, mine, or the like.
Train
A connected line of cars or carriages on a railroad; - called also railroad train.
Train
A heavy, long sleigh used in Canada for the transportation of merchandise, wood, and the like.
Train
A roll train; as, a 12-inch train.
Train
The aggregation of men, animals, and vehicles which accompany an army or one of its subdivisions, and transport its baggage, ammunition, supplies, and reserve materials of all kinds.
Train
Public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive;
Express trains don't stop at Princeton Junction
Train
A sequentially ordered set of things or events or ideas in which each successive member is related to the preceding;
A string of islands
Train of mourners
A train of thought
Train
A procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file;
We were part of a caravan of almost a thousand camels
They joined the wagon train for safety
Train
A series of consequences wrought by an event;
It led to a train of disasters
Train
Piece of cloth forming the long back section of a gown that is drawn along the floor;
The bride's train was carried by her two young nephews
Train
Wheelwork consisting of a connected set of rotating gears by which force is transmitted or motion or torque is changed;
The fool got his tie caught in the geartrain
Train
Create by training and teaching;
The old master is training world-class violinists
We develop the leaders for the future
Train
Undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession;
She is training to be a teacher
He trained as a legal aid
Train
Train by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control;
Parents must discipline their children
Is this dog trained?
Train
Prepare (someone) for a future role or function;
He is grooming his son to become his successor
The prince was prepared to become King one day
They trained him to be a warrior
Train
Train to be discriminative in taste or judgment;
Cultivate your musical taste
Train your tastebuds
She is well schooled in poetry
Train
Aim or direct at; as of blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment;
Please don't aim at your little brother!
He trained his gun on the burglar
Don't train your camera on the women
Take a swipe at one's opponent
Train
Teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports;
He is training our Olympic team
She is coaching the crew
Train
Exercise in order to prepare for an event or competition;
She is training for the Olympics
Train
Train to grow in a certain way by tying and pruning it;
Train the vine
Train
Travel by rail or train;
They railed from Rome to Venice
She trained to Hamburg
Train
Drag loosely along a surface; allow to sweep the ground;
The toddler was trailing his pants
She trained her long scarf behind her
Train
A mode of long-distance transportation on rails
I prefer taking the train over flying.
Train
A part of a dress that trails behind the wearer
Her wedding gown had a long train.
Train
To instruct or teach in a particular skill or type of behavior
She trains dogs for a living.
Common Curiosities
Is a metro faster than a train?
Not necessarily. While metros are optimized for short distances with quick stops, long-distance trains can reach higher maximum speeds.
Is a metro also a train?
Yes, a metro is a type of train specifically designed for urban rapid transit.
Do trains always operate over long distances?
No, trains can operate over both short distances, like commuter trains, and long distances, like intercity trains.
Are metros exclusive to large cities?
Typically, metros are built in large urban areas due to the high investment required and the need for rapid transit.
Can trains operate underground like metros?
Yes, some trains, especially in urban areas, can operate underground, though metros are more commonly associated with underground operations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
