Rapid transit or
mass rapid transit (
MRT) or
heavy rail, commonly referred to as
metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. A grade separated rapid transit line below ground surface through a tunnel can be regionally called a
subway,
tube, or
underground. They are sometimes grade-separated on elevated railways, in which case some are referred to as
el trains â short for "elevated" â or
skytrains. Rapid transit systems are railways, usually electric, that unlike buses or trams operate on an exclusive right-of-way, which cannot be accessed by pedestrians or other vehicles.