Rail motor coach

A motor coach (in the European use of the word) or motor car is a powered rail vehicle able to pull a train and at the same time transport passengers or luggage. It can be part of a permanently or semi-permanently coupled trainset, a so called multiple unit. If it is usually running as a single unit or with a matching trailer, it is called a railcar. But there were also motor cars that replaced locomotives at the head of local passenger or freight trains. Especially electrified narrow gauge lines on the European continent often saw this form of operation. Many of these railways closed down, many others changed to electric multiple units. But a few lines in Switzerland, Italy and Austria still work with motor coach pulled train consists. It can be expected that the Bernina line of Rhätische Bahn will continue for a long time to be operated with motor coaches pulling passenger and freight trains.