Objects

is often used to describe any form of elevated rail or people mover. More accurately, the term refers to the style of track.[note 1] The term monorail originated from German engineer Eugen Langen in 1897. Monorails are single-rail systems serving as a track for passenger or freight vehicles, often found in airport transfers and medium-capacity metros. Monorail vehicles can be similar to light rail vehicles and can be used alongside conventional metro systems. Monorails differ from trams and light rail systems by always being separated from other traffic and pedestrians, and they do not use pantographs. All transport systems with dedicated rights-of-way offer the benefit of avoiding traffic jams, and elevated transport systems offer better views. Compared to elevated train, bus, and automobile systems, elevated monorails are considered to have benefits in an urban environment owing to the narrower rail reducing shading and visual impacts.