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UrbanRail.Net is your gateway to any information related to metros, subways, or similar urban rail transit systems around the world. UrbanRail.Net gives you a general overview of each city's metro system and links you to other relevant sites. UrbanRail.Net wants to be as updated as possible to make the most out of this fascinating media which is the internet. UrbanRail.Net does not want to duplicate information given in English elsewhere on the Internet. UrbanRail.Net also wants to be respectful with copyright laws and publish only "self-made" contents (maps, photos, texts etc.)

See how it all began in 1995

UrbanRail.Net is maintained by Robert Schwandl, a mere metro fan not related in any way to any metro operating company or the rail industry. Although I have done the biggest part to set it up through the last 5 years or so, this site would not be possible without the help of hundreds of often anonymous helpers all around the world who contribute to the site in many different ways, by sending the latest info from their city, providing photographs, correcting inevitable mistakes, suggesting new details, etc. Thanks to everybody out there!

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Yes, certainly, if your website is also about urban railways. You can link directly to a city page or to the start page. You can use this button:

If you wish, we can place a link to your website, but only if it is about urban railways [Mail]

Nobody, unfortunately. It's a very idealistic project and I've been paying for the server to host the pages and spent many many hours putting it together and keeping it updated. And it has been great fun with so many positive mails received from around the world.

But there are some ways you can help to finance the project if you want:
1) Donation to UrbanRail.Net (ask for PayPal or other options [Mail])
2) Buy books about metros published by the author
3) Buy metro-related books at schwandl.com
4) Place a paid advert in UrbanRail.Net (only if product offered is related to the subject of the site)

You can keep sending your contributions by email:
1) Updated info
2) Corrections
3) Report dead links
4) Photos - ONLY if you have the copyright (click here for parameters required). Do NOT send images from other websites! Send me a link to these pictures instead.
5) Prepare a full page to copy and paste into the existing structure (requires minimum knowledge of webpage editing)

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My personal definition is:

1) An urban electric mass rail transport system, i.e. it is primarily used to move within the city
2) Totally independent from other traffic, rail or street traffic
3) High frequency service (maximum interval approx. 10 minutes during normal daytime service)

Obviously a metro does not have to be underground (this is why I prefer this term to 'subway' or 'underground' or 'U-Bahn' as all these terms imply a tunnel), it can also be elevated or at grade. A metro does not necessarily use heavy rail technology, therefore the Docklands Light Railway or the Lille VAL are full metro services, with the only difference that their capacity is smaller according to the needs of the city/area they serve. It's also irrelevant whether the metro runs on steel wheels or rubber tyres, is monorail or conventional double rail, uses third rail power supply or overhead wire, is fully automated or has a driver, has standard, narrow or broad gauge.

There are many mixed forms nowadays and probably there will be even more in the future. In Europe (especially Germany and the Benelux) light rail systems (Stadtbahn, Premetro) have been bridging the gap between metros and trams for some decades now and provide, in most cases, a perfect service in their city. For the time being I can only cover these mixed systems (which I'd like to refer to as metroTrams) in Europe only, although also in America and Asia more and more networks of this kind are being built.

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Why is the website no longer called 'metroPlanet'?

- Because the world's fifth largest retailer based in Germany claimed that the former name would infringe their registered trademark and we didn't have the financial resources to sort this out in court.

Why is UrbanRail.Net only in English?

- Because English is the language most people can understand, and keeping a website updated in various languages turns out to be too time consuming. If you don't understand English sufficiently I suggest to use Google automatic translation. Go to Google, type in urbanrail and then click 'Translate this page'. It will be displayed in the langauge Google has detected on your computer.

Which programme do you use to draw your maps?

- Paint Shop Pro 5, which is an easy to use Shareware programme you can download everywhere.

Which format is the best to draw maps?

- To publish those maps on the Internet .gif is the best format and I actually also draw them in this format (for the initial sketch I use .psp, Paintshop's own format)