Semi-metro

The term semi-metro refers to a category of urban rail transport in which trams run partly on separate tracks to avoid conflicts with other traffic, by using tunnels and viaducts. This type of transit is also referred to by various other terms, including subway–surface light rail or subway–surface system.: 517 

Dedicated stretches of track are designed to function similarly to regular metro or rapid transit lines. One key difference from metro lines (rapid transit) is that a metro line has an entirely conflict-free track, often completely grade separated, whereas semi-metro has lines which only partially run in tunnels and on viaducts.

Systems described as semi-metro run with tram vehicles as they are usually developed from an existing tram network. Semi-metro routes are operated by either regular trams (with or without low floor) or with specially developed tramcars (light rail vehicles), such as the Stadtbahn-car 'type B'.: 55  In the United States, most semi-metro systems are operated with larger vehicles than those on streetcar systems.

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