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Tractive unit

Vehicle equipped with prime mover and motor, or with motor only, intended either for hauling or pushing other vehicles (a ‘locomotive’) or for running alone (a ‘railcar’), or composition of vehicles identified as a trainset. In spite of the usual reference to ‘traction’, the power in a trainset can come from the front car, be distributed among several cars or come from the rear car.
Document
Glossary
Context
EU Policy
Origin document

Glossary for transport statistics - 6TH EDITION 2026

Release