Passenger train

Amtrak's locomotive-hauled Northeast Regional in the United States

One of JR East's commuter electric multiple units in Japan

A heritage train in Denmark

A high speed passenger train in China

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A passenger train is a train used to transport people along a railroad line, as opposed to a freight train that carries goods.^[1][2] These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or carriages) hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self propelled passenger trains are known as multiple units or railcars. Passenger trains stop at stations or depots, where passengers may board and disembark. In most cases, passenger trains operate on a fixed schedule and have priority over freight trains.

Car design and the general safety of passenger trains have dramatically evolved over time, making travel by rail remarkably safe. Some passenger trains, both long-distance and short-distance, use bi-level (double-decker) cars to carry more passengers per train. Sleeper trains include sleeping cars with beds. Passenger trains hauled by locomotives are more expensive to operate than multiple units, but have a higher passenger capacity.^[3]

Many prestigious passenger train services have been bestowed a special name, some of which have become famous in literature and fiction.^{[citation needed]}