Editing Multiple unit (section)

{{Short description|Self-propelled train}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2008}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Redirect|Self-powered car|the road vehicle type|Self-driving car}}
[[File:ICE 3 Oberhaider-Wald-Tunnel.jpg|thumb|A [[Deutsche Bahn]] [[ICE 3]] [[Electric multiple unit|EMU]] capable of up to {{convert|320|km/h|0|abbr=on}} in [[Rhineland-Palatinate]], [[Germany]]]]
[[File:Prospector new railcar, Toodyay.jpg|thumb|The [[Transwa Prospector]] [[DEMU]], capable of speeds up to {{convert|200|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, in service between [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]] and [[Kalgoorlie]] in [[Australia]].]]
{{Multiple unit}}
[[File:Neue Mühle 3.jpg|thumb|The [[Bombardier Talent]] articulated regional railcar]]
[[File:Hunter railcars 2751 & 2701 (45512879812).jpg|thumb|A two-car [[New South Wales Hunter railcar]] in Australia]]

A '''multiple-unit train''' (or '''multiple unit''' ('''MU''')) is a self-propelled [[train]] composed of one or more [[Coach (rail)|carriages]] joined, and where one or more of the carriages have the means of propulsion built in. By contrast, a locomotive-hauled train has all of the carriages unpowered.

An implication of this is that all the powered carriages needs to be controllable by a single engineer or driver, which is a case of the broader concept of [[multiple-unit train control]]. In other words, all "multiple units" employ some variation of multiple-unit train control. In the broader context "unit" means any powered rail vehicle, including locomotives (that does not carry cargo) and powered cargo-carrying carriages. In the context of this article, "unit" refers specifically to the latter only (whether the cargo is passengers or some other cargo).

What follows is that if coupled to another multiple unit, all MUs can still be controlled by the single driver,<ref name="Gloss">{{cite web |title=Rulebook Master: Glossary of Railway Terminology, Train Working "Coupled in multiple - Traction units coupled to allow through controls by one driver" |url= https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERM8000-master-module%20Iss%201.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180810143338/https://www.rssb.co.uk/rgs/rulebooks/GERM8000-master-module%20Iss%201.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2018 |access-date=28 September 2017 |publisher=[[Rail Safety and Standards Board]]}}</ref> with [[multiple-unit train control]].

Although multiple units consist of several carriages, single self-propelled carriages – also called [[railcar]]s, [[rail motor coach]]es or [[railbus]]es – are in fact multiple units when two or more of them are working connected through multiple-unit train control (regardless of whether passengers can walk between the units or not).