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A medium-capacity system ( MCS), also known as light rapid transit or light metro, is a system with a capacity greater than , but less than typical heavy-rail . MCS trains are usually 1 to 4 cars. Most medium-capacity rail systems are automated or use light-rail type vehicles.

Since determines the scale of a rapid transit system, statistical modeling allows planners to size the rail system for the needs of the area. When the predicted falls between the service requirements of a light rail and heavy-rail rapid transit or metro system, an MCS project is indicated. An MCS may also result when a rapid transit service fails to achieve the requisite ridership due to network inadequacies (e.g. ) or changing demographics.

In contrast with light rail systems, an MCS or light metro runs on an entirely exclusive right-of-way, and is therefore completely separated from other traffic. In some cases, the distance between is much longer than typically found on heavy rail networks. An MCS may also be suitable for to another mode of a heavy-capacity transport system, such as an or a main route of a metro network.

Definition
The medium capacity designation is created from relative lower capacity and/or train configuration comparisons to other heavy rail systems. For example, the train in an MCS may have a shorter configuration than the standard system, with fewer than a heavy capacity systems, allowing for shorter to be built and used. Rather than using steel wheels, rubber-tyred metro technology, such as the VAL system used on the , is sometimes recommended, due to its low running , as well as the ability to climb steeper grades and turn tighter curves, thus allowing more flexible alignments.

Fully heavy rail or metro systems generally have train of 10 minutes or better during peak hours. Some systems that qualify as heavy rail/metro in every other way (e.g. are fully ), but which have network inadequacies (e.g. a section of single track rail) can only achieve lesser headways (e.g. every 15 minutes) which result in lower passenger volume capacities, and thus would be more accurately defined as "light metro" or "medium-capacity" systems as a result.

Capacity
A report from the World Bank places the capacity of an MCS at 15,000 to 30,000 p/h/d. For comparison, ridership capacity of more than 30,000 p/h/d has been quoted as the standard for metro or "heavy rail" standards rapid transit systems,
(2025). 9780215025739, The Stationery Office. .
while systems have passenger capacity volumes of around 10,000 to 12,000 p/h/d or 12,000 to 18,000 p/h/d. VAL (Véhicule Automatique Léger) systems are categorised in the medium-capacity rail systems because their manufacturer defines their passenger capacities as being up to 30,000 p/h/d.

However, the capacity boundaries for a line to be categorised as a medium-capacity system can vary due to its non-. Inconsistencies in are even reflected within individual countries. For example, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications states that each MCS system can board around 6,000 to 20,000 passengers per hour per direction (p/h/d or PPHPD), while the Taiwan Department of Rapid Transit Systems (TCG) suggests an MCS has a capability of boarding around 20,000 to 30,000 p/h/d,

In , 's Ma On Shan line was locally classified as a medium-capacity system (as it used shorter 4-car SP1950 trains, compared to 7- to 12-car trains on other MTR lines) but can attain up to 32,000 p/h/d which is comparable to the passenger capacity of some full metro transit networks. However, it was built to the full heavy rail standard as it was designed to be extended. Full-length, 8-car trains were deployed on the line in advance of its extension into the Tuen Ma line in June 2021. Two other lines, the Disneyland Resort line since 2005 and the South Island line since December 2016, are also classified as MCS because of their shorter trains and smaller capacity, however they use the same technology as the full-capacity rapid transit lines.

Terminology
In addition to MCS, light metro is a common alternative word in European countries, India, and South Korea. In some countries, however, light metro systems are conflated with . In South Korea, light rail is used as the translation for the original Korean term, "경전철" – its literal translation is "light metro", but it actually means "Any railway transit other than heavy rail, which has capacity between heavy rail and bus transit". For example, the in utilises the VAL system, a variant of medium-capacity rail transport, and is therefore categorised "light metro" by LRTA and others, though the operator itself and South Korean sources refer to the U Line as "light rail". Busan–Gimhae Light Rail Transit is also akin to a light metro in its appearance and features, thought the operator refers it as a "light rail". Likewise, Malaysian officials and media commonly refer to the Kelana Jaya, Ampang and Sri Petaling lines as "light rail transit" systems; when originally opened, the original Malay abbreviations for the lines, PUTRA-LRT ( Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik/Automatic Light Transit Joint Venture Project) and STAR-LRT ( Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan/Light Flow Transit System) did not clearly distinguish between light rail and light rapid transit. Some articles in India also refer to some "light metro"-type systems as "light rail". The Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA), a nonprofit organisation, also categorises several public transport systems as "light metro".

Advantages and disadvantages
The main reason to build a light metro instead of a regular metro is to reduce costs, mainly because this system employs shorter vehicles and shorter stations.

Light metros may operate faster than heavy-rail rapid transit systems due to shorter dwell times at stations, and the faster acceleration and deceleration of lighter trains. For example, express trains on the New York City Subway are about as fast as the Vancouver SkyTrain, but these express trains skip most stops on lines where they operate.

Medium-capacity systems have restricted growth capacities as increases. For example, it is difficult to extend station platforms once a system is in operation, especially for underground railway systems, since this work must be done without interfering with traffic. Some railway systems, like Hong Kong and Wuhan, may make advance provisions for longer platforms, for example, so that they will be able to accommodate trains with more, or longer cars, in the future. , for example, constructed extra space for two extra cars in all its Wenhu Line stations.

List of medium-capacity rail systems
The following is the list of currently-operating MCSs which are categorised as light metros by the Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA) , unless otherwise indicated. The lists do not include, and urban , despite most of them also being "medium-capacity rail system".

Currently operating MCSs
Armenia11981Rolling stock uses 2 and 3-car trains
Austria – Line 611989 Https://homepage.univie.ac.at/horst.prillinger/ubahn/deutsch/technische_daten.html< /ref>
Bulgaria – Line 312020Driverless vehicle system – trains; chosen as technology supplier
Canada – Line 122019While using vehicles typically seen in light rail systems, the line has a higher capacity operating 2-car (100-metre long) Alstom trains. Moreover, the line is fully separated from road traffic.
Réseau express métropolitain12023Driverless vehicle system. Categorised by itself as a light metro. Trains are 38 metres long.
SkyTrain31985While using vehicles typically seen in medium-capacity systems, the Expo line approaches the capacity of a full "rapid transit" system since it operates with longer 4- and 6-car Bombardier trains. However, the operates with 2-car trains.
China – Capital Airport Express, 22008Capital Airport Express uses 4-car L-type trains, long. Yanfang line uses 4-car B-type trains, long. Trains from both lines are driverless.
Changchun Rail Transit – Line 3, Line 4, Line 832002All three lines use light rail vehicles, with line 3 also having level crossings.
– Line 3, Line 12, Line 1332002Uses 4-car B-type trains, with some trains on line 3 having 2 cars.
– Line 1 (Nanhai Tram)12021The line (also called Nanhai New Transit) uses light rail vehicles, long.
– Line 4, Line 6, , and Zhujiang New Town People Mover42005Lines 4 and 6 use 4-car L-type trains, 67m long. Guangfo line uses 4-car B-type trains, long. Zhujiang New Town People Mover uses 14 Bombardier's APM 100 cars built in , .
– Line S6, Line S7, Line S8, Line S942014Lines S6, S7, and S8 use 4-car B-type trains, long, while line S9 uses 3-car B-type trains, 57 m long.
– Line 5 (branch), Line 6, and 32003Line 5 branch and line 6 use 4-car, long, C-type trains. Pujiang line uses 11 Bombardier Transportation's APM 300 cars.
– Line 912004Line 9 uses 4-car B-type trains, long.
– Line 112004Line 1 uses 4-car B-type trains, long.
Disneyland Resort Line (Penny's Bay Rail Link)12005Trains: 4 compartments without drivers. Some of the M-Train cars used in the Disneyland Resort line were originally ordered from 1994–1998 as subtype H-Stock train (Phase 3 EMU, A/C 270–291, B/C 486–496). Units A/C274 A/C281 A/C284 A/C289 A/C291 and B/C490 are now used on the Disneyland Resort line.
South Island line12016Trains: 3-car S-Trains. Categorised as a "medium-capacity rail transport system".
Macau Light Rapid Transit12019Uses Mitsubishi Heavy Industries APM vehicles with rubber tyres running on concrete tracks. Mitsubishi supplied 55 two-car trains that are fully automated (driverless) and utilise a rubber-tyred APM system. They have a capacity of up to 476 passengers.
Denmark42002Driverless vehicle system. Trains: 3-car configuration, length.
France21983VAL system. Trains: 2-car configuration, in length, with a passenger capacity of 208–240 per train (depending on VAL 206 or VAL 208 train). UrbanRail.net describes it as a "new generation of metro systems".
41978Trains: Driverless, 2 or 3-car configuration, to long. Can carry 252 to 325 people in a train.
21977Trains: 4-car configuration, long.
11991VAL people mover system, using VAL 206 vehicles.
22002VAL people mover system – while trains have 80 second headways, they can only carry 158 people per train. Described as a "mini-metro line".
21993Although a VAL system, LRTA defines the system as "Metro". On the other hand, UrbanRail.net describes it as a "light metro VAL system".
HungaryBudapest Metro Line 111896Trains: The line uses 3-car, long trains that can hold up to 190 people.
IndiaRapid Metro Gurgaon12013Driverless vehicle system. The line is designed to carry up to 30,000 passengers per hour. Several articles define the system as "light metro".
Indonesia12019Jakarta LRT is the first line in Jakarta to use a third rail system. It uses standard gauge (1435 mm). One trainset can carry 270-278 passengersname="ramadhan">
22023The elevated standard-gauge line is electrified at 750V dc third rail. It has moving block signalling designed for headways of 2–3 minutes.
12018Trains uses 3-car configuration
Italy12013Trains: 3-car configuration, length.
11999Single-tracked at-grade section limits headways to 15 minutes. Currently of double track extension are under construction.
11990Generally considered to be a "light metro" considering its low frequency, limited hours of operation and reduced transport capacity. It is actually categorised as "light rail" by LRTA.
[1]
: Line 4 and Line 5		31999, 2013, 2022Driverless vehicle system. Trains: 4-car configuration, length, capacity for 536 passengers.
11993Line 6 is categorised as "light metro", with only 16 minute headways. Line 1 has a single-tracked tunnel section.
12008LRTA defines the system as a "light metro", while they regarded the same system in Laon, which ceased in 2016, as a "cable monorail".
12006VAL people mover system.
Japan [all are rubber-tyred, and can be either driverless or operated manually]11994Trains: 6-car configuration, operated manually. A small part of the underground section was built as Metro system.
Kobe New Transit21981, 1990Trains: Port Island Line and Rokkō Island Line. Both are 4-car configuration (300 people per train), driverless. Platforms were built to accommodate 6-car trains.
OsakaNankō Port Town Line11981Trains: 4-car configuration, driverless vehicle system. Platforms were built to accommodate 6-car trains.
Saitama11983Trains: 6-car configuration, operated manually.
Nippori-Toneri Liner12008Trains: 5-car configuration, driverless vehicle system.
11995Trains: 6-car configuration, driverless vehicle system.
Kanazawa Seaside Line11989Trains: 5-car configuration, driverless vehicle system.
Malaysia – Kelana Jaya Line, Ampang Line, Sri Petaling Line41998, 1996KELANA JAYA LINE: Bombardier INNOVIA ART 200 Trains: Mixed 2-car, 4-car configuration fleet Bombardier Innovia Metro 300 Trains: 4-car configuration AMPANG AND SRI PETALING LINES: CRRC Zhuzhou LRV Trains: 6-car configuration
PhilippinesLRT Line 111984Trains: Line began with 2-car configuration, reconfigured to 3-car in 1999, and procured new 4-car trains in 1999, 2006, and 2022. Line was originally designed for 18,000 p/h/d capacity, increased to 40,000 p/h/d in 2006. Categorised as "light rail" by LRTA.
MRT Line 311999Trains: 3-car configuration, with a max. capacity of 1,182 passengers, and running with 3.5–4 minute headways. 4-car trains with a max. capacity of 1,576 passengers were introduced in 2022. However, line is designed for 23,000 p/h/d capacity, expandable to 48,000 p/h/d.
Russia: Line 12 – 12003Can carry 6,700 p/h/d. Trains: 3-car configuration, ~ length
SingaporeSingapore MRT: Circle line, Downtown line32009, 2013, 2027The Circle line rolling stock consists of Alstom C830 and C830C trains in 3-car formations with a capacity of 931 passengers. The Downtown line rolling stock consists of Bombardier C951 & C951A trains also in 3-car formations with a capacity of 931 passengers.
South KoreaBusan Metro Line 412009Unmentioned by LRTA, though UrbanRail.net categorises the line as a "light metro".
Busan–Gimhae Light Rail Transit12011Driverless vehicle system. Trains: 2-car configuration. Unmentioned by LRTA, but the operator calls the system "light rail".
12019Each train consists of 2-car trains and runs unmanned.
Incheon Subway Line 212016Each train consists of 2-car trains and runs unmanned.
12017Each train consists of 2-car trains and runs unmanned.
12022Each train consists of 2-car trains and runs unmanned.
12012
  • VAL driverless system. Trains: 2-car configuration.
  • Categorised as a "light metro" by LRTA and elsewhere, though there are also articles categorizing it as "Light Rail".
12013Driverless vehicle system applied.
Spain: Line 8 and Line 1122003Driverless vehicle system. Trains: 2-car configuration. LRTA also categorises Line 8 as "light metro".
MálagaMálaga Metro12014System contains at-grade intersections on surface section of Line 1. Described as a "light metro" by at least one rail publication.
Palma, Majorca: Line M112007Mostly underground line operates with just 15-minute headways and 2-car trains (306 passengers max.); one reference even categorises line as "light rail".
12000Trains: length with a max. capacity of 280 passengers. Described as a "light metro" by rolling stock manufacturer, CAF.
SwitzerlandLausanne Métro21991Line M1 uses light rail vehicles, long. Line M2 has driverless, rubber-tyred trains; long.
Taiwan: and Circular/Yellow Line21996, 2020
  • Brown Line (Line 1) – Trains: Rubber-tire system; 4-car configuration; categorised as a part of the "metro" by LRTA.
  • Yellow Line – 4-car AnsaldoBreda Driverless Metro vehicles, categorised as a "light metro" by LRTA.
: Green Line120212-car EMU.
ThailandBangkok MRT: MRT Purple Line120163-car configuration
Turkey11996Trains: 3-car configuration, approx. length. Categorised as a "light rail" by LRTA, though Current capacity: 27,000 p/h/d.
22002Uses light rail cars, similar to Frankfurt U-Bahn
(Istanbul Hafif Metro)11989Trains: 4-car configuration. "Hafif Metro" literally translates as "Light Metro". Categorised as a "light rail" by LRTA.
İzmir(İzmir Hafif Rayli Metro Sistemi)12000Trains: 5-car configuration, upgraded from former 3- and 4-car configurations
Trains: 4-car configuration.It's poorly designed, and it doesn't reach its expected ridership amount.
United Kingdom11896Gauge: . Trains: 3-car configuration.
Docklands Light Railway71987Driverless vehicle system. Trains: generally 2- to 3-car configuration. Categorised as a "light rail" by LRTA.
Tyne and WearTyne and Wear Metro21980Trains: 2 configuration with 7 level crossings it is technically a system.
United StatesSkokie Swift (Chicago "L" Yellow Line)11964Trains: 2-car 5000 series trains, 29.26m (96ft) long. Runs at a lighter capacity compared to the rest of the "L", primarily serving as a connection between Skokie and Chicago
Detroit People Mover11987Considered to be a "people mover".
Skyline12023Trains: 4-car Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro trains, 78m (256ft) long.
31986Considered to be a "people mover".
MetroRail C Line11995While using light rail vehicles, the C line has an independent alignement.
Norristown High Speed Line (part of the rail system)11907Primarily on a surface-level "right-of-way" with partial triple-tracking, allowing for express services. Has been categorised by APTA as "Light rapid rail transit". While it has high platforms and third rail power, all intermediate stops are and fares must be paid to the operator upon boarding except at the termini. This makes it difficult to categorise, as it has the infrastructure of a light metro but is operated in many ways like a trolley service.
Venezuela12006Trains: 3-car trainset configuration, ~ length (originally designed for ). Categorised as a "light rail" by LRTA.
ValenciaValencia Metro12007Trains: 2-car Siemens SD-460 configuration, ~ length. Categorised as a "light rail" by LRTA.
Vietnam22021Trains: 4-car configuration
Ho Chi Minh City12024Trains: 3-car configuration, 61.3 m long, (201 ft)

Under construction MCSs
+ !Country ! width="100px"Location !System !Planned opening !Notes
AustraliaSydney Metro Western Sydney Airport2027Trains will operate at a 3 car Inspiro Stock configuration
KazakhstanAstana Light Metro2025Trains will operate at a 4 car configuration, totalling only 60m
MalaysiaShah Alam Line2025Trains will operate at a 3 car configuration
RomaniaCluj-Napoca Metro2031Romania's second mass transit network. Operated as three-car driverless trains.
SingaporeJurong Region Line2027Hyundai Rotem J151 trains will operate in a 3 car configuration that can carry 600 passengers

Former MCSs
The following is the list of former-MCSs that either developed into a full system, or which are no longer in operation:
  • , China
    • Line 3 – began with 3-car configuration, changed to 6-car in 2010.
  • Komaki, Japan
  • , South Korea
    • Line 9 – trains lengthened from 4 cars to 6 cars in 2019.
  • and Ma On Shan,
    • Ma On Shan Rail – converted from 4- to 8-car configuration and became part of Tuen Ma line.
  • , Ontario
    • Line 3 Scarborough – Categorised by APTA as being "intermediate rail" (i.e. between "heavy rail" and "light rail"), and categorised as a "light metro" by LRTA. Scheduled to cease operations in November 2023, service was suspended following a derailment in July 2023 and was not resumed, instead being replaced by an express bus service.

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