METRORail is the 22.7-mile (36.5 km) light rail system in Houston, Texas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 13,883,700, or about 42,900 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023. METRORail ranks as the second most-traveled light rail system in the Southern United States and the 12th most-traveled light rail system in the United States, and has the highest ridership per mile for light rail systems in the Southern US. METRORail is operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO).
Southbound two-car Siemens S70/H1 METRORail train on Red Line, departing downtown Houston (2007)
Houston MetroRail Cars at Northline Transit Center on Fulton near Crosstimbers (January 2015)
Image: METRO Rail 4
Image: Houston CAF LRV on Harrisburg Blvd at Wayside Drive, Feb 2017
Light rail transit (LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit characterized by a combination of tram and rapid transit features. While its rolling stock is similar to that of a traditional tram, it operates at a higher capacity and speed and often on an exclusive right-of-way. In many cities, light rail transit systems more closely resemble, and are therefore indistinguishable from, traditional underground or at-grade subways and heavy-rail metros.
Los Angeles' expansion of mass transit has been driven in large part by light rail.
Utah Transit Authority's TRAX has 50 stations on three lines.
The CTrain is a light rail system operated by Calgary Transit.
The light rail in Tunis, Tunisia, was the first light rail system in Africa.
