Trains generally do not have the same weight limitations as road vehicles, because they use steel wheels on steel rails. As a result, they can be made to operate more economically, including, in the case of electric trains, not having to carry around a power generation source and fuel. However, because steel wheels on steel rails generate much less friction than rubber tires on concrete, stopping distances for a train are much longer than those for other vehicles and can exceed one mile. | Trains generally do not have the same weight limitations as road vehicles, because they use steel wheels on steel rails. As a result, they can be made to operate more economically, including, in the case of electric trains, not having to carry around a power generation source and fuel. However, because steel wheels on steel rails generate much less friction than rubber tires on concrete, stopping distances for a train are much longer than those for other vehicles and can exceed one mile. |