S-Bahn

(Translated from the German wikipedia article)

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The S-Bahn is a suburban metro railway network in Germany. The name is an abbreviation for "Stadtschnellbahn" (fast city train) and was introduced in December 1930 in Berlin, after "SS-Bahn" (Stadtschnell...) had been unofficially in use already. The S-Bahn is a railroad that serves metropolitan traffic as well as direct regional traffic, and is characterized by high efficiency and a synchronized timetable that allows for denser train traffic on the rail lines. This is achieved by the use of separate tracks, electric railcar-driven trains and train doors at platform level (in some cities these standards are not met though). The symbol for the S-Bahn in Germany is a white "S" on a green circle.

Related Topics:
Metro - Railway - Germany - 1930 - Berlin - Railroad

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In Austria S-Bahn lines and stations are displayed by a blue circle with a white, cornered 'S' in it. There are proper S-Bahn Systems in Vienna and Salzburg. The Viennese System is very large, old and well-known. In Switzerland, S-Linien (S-lines) is displayed in black letters on a white background. From the term S-Bahn come many similar notations, like the name R-bahn for regional trains, which is not in accordance with S-Bahn criteria.

Related Topics:
Austria - Vienna - Salzburg - Switzerland - R-bahn

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The term "RER" (Réseau express régional), used in France and western Switzerland, and the "S-tog" in Copenhagen are very similar to the S-Bahn.

Related Topics:
RER - France - S-tog - Copenhagen

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