LRT

Light rail transit (LRT) is a form of urban rail transit that uses electric-powered rail vehicles operating in city streets and on exclusive tracks. It is designed to combine the ability to operate in congested urban areas with higher speed and capacity than traditional street trams, while typically not requiring the heavy infrastructure of a full metro system. LRT systems can vary in their degree of separation from road traffic.

Vehicles are usually low-floor for accessibility and commonly run in single or double-car formations. LRT can operate in mixed traffic with marked lanes or on wholly dedicated rights-of-way, including grade-separated alignments on some segments. Speeds and headways depend on corridor planning but generally range from urban speeds of about 20–50 km/h to higher speeds on reserved sections; typical headways are 5–15 minutes.

Power is usually electric, supplied by overhead wires or, in some newer designs, alternative sources such as ground-level power supply. Stations are relatively lightweight with platform-level access. Signaling and interoperability follow light-rail or tram-like systems, allowing smooth integration with buses and pedestrian networks.

In contrast to trams that operate mainly in mixed traffic and heavy metros that require large tunnels and extensive grade separation, LRT sits between these modes, offering moderate capacity and flexibility at a lower capital cost than a full metro. The mode has been widely adopted since the late 20th century in many regions, often as part of broader urban transit expansion.

Notable examples are found in North America and elsewhere, such as Portland's MAX, Calgary's C-Train, and Edmonton's LRT in Canada, as well as numerous European and Asian networks. The term LRT is used in planning documents and operator names to describe these systems and can vary in exact classification by country.