Train vs. Trolley — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 29, 2024
Trains are larger, often long-distance vehicles on rails, while trolleys are smaller, urban streetcars powered by overhead cables.
Difference Between Train and Trolley
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Trains are a form of rail transport consisting of a series of connected vehicles that run along railway tracks to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another. They can cover long distances, including intercity travel, and are known for their speed and efficiency. On the other hand, trolleys, or trolley cars, refer to a type of light rail vehicle that typically operates within cities or towns, providing public transportation. They are usually powered by electricity through overhead wires.
While trains are utilized for a variety of purposes, including freight transport, commuter services, and long-distance travel, trolleys are primarily focused on urban mobility, helping residents and visitors navigate the city. Trolleys may also have a historic or nostalgic aspect in some cities, adding to their appeal.
The infrastructure required for trains and trolleys differs significantly. Trains often require dedicated railway tracks that are built for high speeds and heavy loads, along with stations that can accommodate long trains and large numbers of passengers. Trolleys, however, run on tracks that are sometimes embedded in city streets, with stops that are more closely spaced to serve local communities effectively.
Technologically, trains can vary from diesel-powered locomotives to high-speed electric trains, highlighting the diversity in train types and their capabilities. Trolleys, while generally electric, showcase advancements in urban transit technology, focusing on sustainability and efficiency within the urban fabric.
Despite their differences, both trains and trolleys play crucial roles in the transportation ecosystem. Trains offer a reliable option for long-distance travel and freight movement, while trolleys enhance urban mobility and reduce traffic congestion by providing an environmentally friendly alternative to personal vehicles.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Function
Long-distance passenger and freight travel
Urban public transportation
Power Source
Diesel, electric, or hybrid
Electric, typically from overhead wires
Operating Environment
Dedicated rail tracks, often outside or between cities
Urban streets or dedicated light rail tracks
Capacity
Can vary widely, generally high
Usually smaller than trains
Speed and Distance
High speed, long distance
Moderate speed, short to medium distance
Compare with Definitions
Train
A series of rail vehicles coupled together to transport cargo or passengers.
The midnight train connects the city to the northern suburbs.
Trolley
Can have a nostalgic or historic value in some cities.
The restored trolley cars are a popular tourist attraction.
Train
Can be powered by diesel, electricity, or hybrid systems.
The new electric trains are much quieter and more efficient.
Trolley
An electric streetcar used for urban public transport.
We can take the trolley to downtown directly.
Train
Known for carrying a large number of passengers or goods.
Freight trains are essential for transporting bulk goods across the country.
Trolley
Often runs on tracks embedded in city streets and is powered by overhead electric wires.
The historic trolley line has been in operation for over a century.
Train
Operates on long distances and can travel between cities and countries.
She took a train from Paris to Rome.
Trolley
Serves as an eco-friendly option for city commuters.
Using the trolley for daily commutes reduces carbon emissions.
Train
Trains have a variety of types, including freight, passenger, and high-speed.
High-speed trains can reduce travel time significantly compared to driving.
Trolley
Trolleys contribute to reducing urban traffic congestion.
The expanded trolley service has made it easier to travel without a car in the city.
Train
Go by train
Charles trained to London with Emma
Trolley
A large metal basket or frame on wheels, used for transporting heavy or large items, such as supermarket purchases or luggage at an airport or railway station.
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.
Trolley
A wheel attached to a pole, used for collecting current from an overhead electric wire to drive a tram.
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
Trolley
Short for trolleybus or trolley car
Train
Point or aim something, typically a gun or camera, at
The detective trained his gun on the side door
Trolley
A streetcar.
Train
Entice (someone).
Trolley
A device that collects electric current from an underground conductor, an overhead wire, or a third rail and transmits it to the motor of an electric vehicle.
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
Trolley
A small truck or car operating on a track and used in a mine, quarry, or factory for conveying materials.
Train
A number of vehicles or pack animals moving in a line
A camel train
Trolley
A wheeled carriage, cage, or basket that is suspended from and travels on an overhead track.
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
Trolley
Chiefly British A light cart designed to be moved by hand.
Train
A trail of gunpowder for firing an explosive charge.
Trolley
To convey (passengers) or travel by trolley.
Train
A series of connected railroad cars pulled or pushed by one or more locomotives.
Trolley
A trolley pole; a single-pole device for collecting electrical current from an overhead electrical line, normally for a tram/streetcar or a trolleybus.
Train
A long line of moving people, animals, or vehicles.
Trolley
(US) A streetcar or light train.
Train
The personnel, vehicles, and equipment following and providing supplies and services to a combat unit.
Trolley
A light rail, tramway, trolleybus or streetcar system.
Train
A part of a gown that trails behind the wearer.
Trolley
A truck from which the load is suspended in some kinds of cranes.
Train
A staff of people following in attendance; a retinue.
Trolley
A truck which travels along the fixed conductors in an electric railway, and forms a means of connection between them and a railway car.
Train
An orderly succession of related events or thoughts; a sequence.
Trolley
A cart or shopping cart; a shopping trolley.
Train
A series of consequences wrought by an event; aftermath.
Trolley
(British) A hand truck.
Train
A set of linked mechanical parts
A train of gears.
Trolley
(British) A soapbox car.
Train
A string of gunpowder that acts as a fuse for exploding a charge.
Trolley
(British) A gurney, a stretcher with wheeled legs.
Train
To coach in or accustom to a mode of behavior or performance.
Trolley
(Philippines) A handcar.
Train
To make proficient with specialized instruction and practice.
Trolley
To bring to by trolley.
Train
To prepare physically, as with a regimen
Train athletes for track-and-field competition.
Trolley
To use a trolley vehicle to go from one place to another.
Train
To cause (a plant or one's hair) to take a desired course or shape, as by manipulating.
Trolley
To travel by trolley (streetcar, trolleybus or light train).
Train
To point or direct (a gun or camera, for example) at something.
Trolley
A form of truck which can be tilted, for carrying railroad materials, or the like.
Train
To let drag behind; trail.
Trolley
A wheeled vehicle that runs on rails and is propelled by electricity;
`tram' and `tramcar' are British terms
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
Common Curiosities
Can trains be electric like trolleys?
Yes, trains can be powered by electricity, diesel, or hybrid systems.
Is there a difference in speed between trains and trolleys?
Trains often reach higher speeds, suitable for long distances, while trolleys move at moderate speeds, ideal for short urban trips.
Can trolleys carry as many passengers as trains?
Trolleys usually have a smaller capacity compared to most trains, catering to local urban transport needs.
Is there an environmental advantage to using trolleys over cars?
Yes, trolleys are more energy-efficient and produce fewer emissions per passenger compared to cars.
What makes trolleys an appealing option in urban centers?
Trolleys enhance urban mobility with their eco-friendly nature and the ability to navigate through dense areas efficiently.
What's the main difference between a train and a trolley?
The main difference lies in their usage and operation; trains are for long-distance travel, while trolleys are for urban transit.
Are there any cities where trolleys are the main form of public transportation?
Yes, some cities rely heavily on trolleys for public transit, especially those with compact urban cores.
Are trolleys considered a form of light rail?
Yes, trolleys are a type of light rail vehicle, typically operating within urban areas.
Are all trolleys powered by overhead electric wires?
While most are electric and powered by overhead wires, some modern trolleys use alternative power sources like batteries.
Do trains and trolleys serve the same transportation needs?
No, trains are typically used for longer distances and can transport freight, while trolleys are focused on urban public transport.
Can trains operate within cities like trolleys?
Trains can operate within cities, especially as part of urban commuter rail networks, but they are generally designed for longer distances.
Do both trains and trolleys require tracks?
Yes, both operate on tracks, but train tracks are designed for higher speeds and heavier loads, whereas trolley tracks can be embedded in city streets.
Can you take a trolley for intercity travel?
Trolleys are not designed for intercity travel; they serve urban and local routes.
Can the tracks of trains and trolleys intersect?
Yes, in some areas, train and trolley tracks may intersect, but they usually have systems in place to manage such intersections safely.
How do commuters benefit from trains?
Trains offer a fast, reliable, and efficient means of travel over long distances, often with the comfort of avoiding traffic.
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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.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
