multiple-unitadj.n.
/ˌmʌltᵻplˈjuːnɪt/, U.S. /ˌməltəp(ə)l ˈjunət/ Railways.
A. adj.
Of, relating to, or designating a train with a number of coaches each provided with engines, all of which can be controlled by a single driver.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [adjective] > type of train
carriaged1776
steam-hauled1835
steam-operated1835
jerkwater1852
articulated1884
vestibuled1890
multiple-unit1902
air-braked1905
collision-proof1906
pull-and-push1914
push-and-pull1927
sealed1949
drive-on1954
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVIII. 93/1 The train operated by two or more motor cars under a common secondary control. This..is called the ‘multiple unit system’.
1940 Railroad Mag. Apr. 74/2 How do multiple-unit trains with more than one pole raised, and a bus line running the length of the train, operate past voltage change points?
1967 Economist 21 Jan. 202/1 In October 1965 an agreement was reached between the railway management and the unions on single-manning for passenger and long-distance freight locomotives (and multiple-unit trains that have no loco as such).
1991 Impact of Sci. on Society (UNESCO) No. 162. 154 All Shinkansen trains (known colloquially as ‘bullet trains’) are of multiple-unit formation, each being composed of 12 or 6 railcars equipped with motive power.
B. n.
A multiple-unit train.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > rail travel > rolling stock > [noun] > locomotive > railway carriage incorporating engine
unit1902
motor coach1923
power car1936
multiple-unit1963
1963 Jrnl. Industr. Econ. 11 173 Diesel multiple units cost 4s. to 6s. per train mile.
1970 Railway World Dec. 540 At times of peak traffic, nine-car formations composed of two three-car multiple-units and three additional trailers are often seen.
1997 Mod. Railways July 406/1 Midland Main Line and Adtranz..signed the contract for 13 two-car diesel multiple-units.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.n.1902