![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/11_Cable_Car_on_Powell_St_crop%252C_SF%252C_CA%252C_jjron_25.03.2012.jpg/640px-11_Cable_Car_on_Powell_St_crop%252C_SF%252C_CA%252C_jjron_25.03.2012.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Cable car (railway)
Cable-hauled mass transit system / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about ground-based mass transit. For other cable railway systems, see Cable railway. For other uses, see Cable car.
A cable car (usually known as a cable tram outside North America) is a type of cable railway used for mass transit in which rail cars are hauled by a continuously moving cable running at a constant speed. Individual cars stop and start by releasing and gripping this cable as required. Cable cars are distinct from funiculars, where the cars are permanently attached to the cable.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/11_Cable_Car_on_Powell_St_crop%2C_SF%2C_CA%2C_jjron_25.03.2012.jpg/640px-11_Cable_Car_on_Powell_St_crop%2C_SF%2C_CA%2C_jjron_25.03.2012.jpg)