Limitedexpress

Limitedexpress is a railway service category used in several national networks to describe trains that offer faster travel by stopping at fewer stations than local services. The exact definition and features differ by country, but common elements include reduced stops, shorter journey times, and often higher fares or premium seating options compared with ordinary services. The term is sometimes written as limited express or concatenated as limitedexpress in timetables and schedules.

In Japan, the equivalent term is tokkyū, or limited express. Tokkyū trains operate on main lines with a limited number of stops and require a surcharge beyond the base fare. They typically offer reserved seating and may run on premium rolling stock with higher performance, including Green Car seating.

In India and some other rail systems, Limited Express trains form a category between ordinary Passenger trains and Express trains. They make fewer stops than typical passenger services and usually offer reserved seating and multiple classes, including air-conditioned options. Timetables and fare rules vary by operator.

Because railway terminology varies by country, not all networks use the term uniformly. Some networks use semi-fast, express, or superfast labels for similar services. In all cases, limited express services aim to balance faster travel times with network coverage and affordability, often serving longer-distance routes while skipping smaller intermediate stations.