The urban railroad represents a long-established but little-understood range of rail transit in several older North American industrial cities. In most instances urban railroads are officially classified as commuter rail, but the genre also includes a couple of lines in the rapid transit category. Several urban railroads incorporate elements of both modes. The urban railroad uses conventional railroad technology and rights of way to provide high-quality service within the central city. Examples of the urban railroad include Metra Electric in Chicago, Cleveland’s Red Line, and the urban portions of Philadelphia’s Regional Rail and New York’s Long Island Rail Road. Neglected and overlooked for decades, the urban railroad has untapped potential to attract amenity-conscious customers and relieve ridership pressure on nearby bus routes.