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Railbus vs Railcar dilemma

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Lets not confuse railcars with railbus! Many of us ask ourselves what distinguishes railbuses from railcars.

The term “railbus” (perhaps as a loan from German Schienenbus) in relation to modern passenger railcars is being used often!

And although the definitions of what is a Railbus between Germany, Italy, France, England, Sweden may vary slightly, they where all pioneers in this type of vehicles and all have one charecteristic in common; “lightweight street based vehicles that ran on smaller main line railines”, in other words, a Railcar is a smaller lighter powered main line rail vehicle while a Railbus is still smaller and lighter powered than a Railcar.

Here i include several reasons why today's railcars are being called “railbus”:

  • 1) Railbuses originally where (single self-propelling carriages) with two axels and at times had one or two additional wagons attached. Today's much bigger Railcars have similar characteristics, self enclosed motorized diesel units but with railroad style Bogies
  • 2) Railbuses where diesel power, todays Railcars are also diesel power, though electric and multiple unit versions are also available.
  • 3) Railbuses often have cabs at both ends, so that railbuses can easily change direction. Railcars do also. But Railbuses driver's compartment is integrated into the car without any separation from travelers, Railcars usually do not.
  • 5) And in many instances, today manufacturers are choosing Railbus for their products for marketing and promotional purposes.

Here an example:

The Val Venosta Railway (Italian: → Ferrovia della Val Venosta) in a station in Mals, South Tyrol (Italy) is a good example of old and new, take a look at the Gallery, you'll see a “Railbus” in one vintage image and a “Railcar” in another contemporary image, both in the same station, though the new is definitely a Railcar, the word “Railbus” has however been left in the everyday language, (see images here: FerroviaValVenostaAMalles1974.jpg Vinschgaubahn 01.jpg)

Nonetheless, even if a Railbus is to be classified as a Railcar, (or a Railcoach or a Motorcar for that matter, please correct me here if i'm wrong), it deserves its own page.

Lastly, this uncertainty is also being talk over in the Russian and Swedish articles, where not alone, hope my insight has given some light to the dilemma, comments please! cheers to all ∞ Moebiusuibeom-en (talk) 16:53, 21 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a clear, consistent and internationally applicable distinction between railcar and railbus? Whilst I agree that they're different, is this distance consistent between countries? If it isn't, then I'm not sure we can support a simple split into two articles. Andy Dingley (talk) 17:20, 21 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Secondly, what's the point of splitting railcar and railbus as two articles? Although the objects described are distinct, we should only split the article if it's better for the encyclopedic purposes of the project to do so. This should be done for clarity of reading. There is no reason to split them for consistency between articles and the objects they describe! Although this is usually how we work, we only do this because of the 1st point: it helps clarity. If it stops helping clarity and becomes confusing, then we shouldn't do it. There are real cases for this: when the objects' distinction is variable, or when their contrast is more important than their individual descriptions, would be just two. Andy Dingley (talk) 17:20, 21 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
While it is very clear to me what a "Schienenbus" is, I'm not absolutely sure if the word railbus is a synonym or not. (But no, I don't think today's Vintschgau GTWs can be calles railbuses!) In Sweden the translation of this word was used for lightweight bogie vehicles, diesel or electric. In Germany and Austria, a "Schienenbus" was a two axled diesel motor car while Switzerland has never seen a vehicle being called "Schienenbus". However, we find a four axled Schienenbus in Germany, this was a narrow gauge version of the two axled MAN "Schienenbus". But, after all, there is no doubt that a "Schienenbus" is always belonging to the category "Triebwagen". This would lead to the conclusion that Railcar is the main article and Railbus is a chapter in this article or then a special article but belonging to the category Railbuses. Just my two pence worth but native english speakers might shed a light on the question as well, please.-- Gürbetaler (talk) 21:54, 21 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Hey you all, just want to update data, Railcars and Railbuses are a worlds apart, lets look forward, just making space for new stuff on the block, come on, participate, park your cars ∞ Moebiusuibeom-en (talk) 01:13, 25 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]
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Let's focus, shall we ?

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It would seem that some of the pictures in this article do not match the definition given in the introductive summary, to wit a bus body having two fixed axles instead of bogies.


a − Modern-day railbus, built originally by Ferrostaal, entirely rebuilt and redesigned in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

Searching with these terms yields for exemple this series that seems to be the same multiple-unit railcar, each unit being clearly mounted on bogies. Also this picture.

b − Batara Kresna Railbus

Not speaking Indonesian at all, I am unable yet to form a definite and definitive opinion yet as to the Batara Kresna Railbus but some pics I found do seem to show bogies. Yes, I know, there is "railbus" right here in the name. At any rate, this one clearly is not a converted road-going bus.


Well, I guess that the world of light rail is full of hybrids uncertain of their boundaries. I posit, however, that this article really should stick to what is laid out in the introductive summary. I am therefore of the opinion that the aformentioned pics be removed. What does everybody think about it ? Noliscient (talk) 17:06, 18 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

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