Phrase guide

commuter rail

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A rail transport system with trains used to transport commuters between two places, typically their homes and works, normally within a metropolitan area and its surrounding environs, and generally distinguished from other rail transport systems (i.e. subways, metros, tramways) by having less frequent service, lacking free transfers between trains and using heavy rolling stock running on a mainline railway

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport

Examples

  • Boston and Philadelphia's commuter rails each have thirteen active lines, but Boston's lines reach, on average, over a third again farther out from the central city than their counterparts in Philly.
  • I took the commuter rail in to work today, since it's quicker and more convenient than driving on the highway at rush hour.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: overground/Overground, S-Bahn

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Esperanto: A-fervojo — railway
  • Esperanto: aglomeraĵo fervojo — railway
  • Esperanto: antaŭurba fervojo — railway
  • Finnish: lähijunajärjestelmä — railway
  • Finnish: paikallisjunajärjestelmä — railway
  • French: train de banlieue — railway
  • German: S-Bahn — railway
  • German: Stadtschnellbahn — railway
  • Italian: servizio ferroviario suburbano — railway
  • Italian: servizio ferroviario urbano — railway
  • Italian: servizio ferroviario metropolitano — railway
  • Polish: kolej aglomeracyjna — railway
  • Polish: kolej podmiejska — railway
  • Spanish: ferrocarril de cercanía — railway
  • Spanish: cercanías — railway
  • Swedish: pendeltågssystem — railway
  • Swedish: pendel — railway