Train (obstacle)

Trains are obstacles that appear in the Mario Kart series.

Mario Kart 64
The Kalimari Desert course in Mario Kart 64 features two trains, also referred to as Kalimari Expresses or N64 Expresses. They are red-and-black coal-powered steam locomotives with one coal tender and five passenger cars. Both trains travel along an elliptical track that the player crosses twice; at each crossing lies two crossbucks atop pairs of lights that flash if a train approaches. The player flips over if they hit any part of the train, including the passenger cars. In VS Mode for two players, every train engine has only one passenger car, while in the Grand Prix for two players, as well as in VS Mode for three and four players, all the passenger cars including the coal tenders are absent.

In the Wii Virtual Console release, the train's wheels are colored black instead of red.

A similar train called the K64 appears in Paper Mario, with the music that plays when Mario rides it being an arrangement of Kalimari Desert's music.

Mario Kart 7
Trains reappear in the Mario Kart 7 rendition of N64 Kalimari Desert, once again acting as obstacles for drivers. They can be taken out by driving into them while under the effects of a Super Star. The trains have now three passenger cars, and they ride slightly more slowly. In the multiplayer mode, only one train is available.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
In Mario Kart 8 and its Nintendo Switch port, multiple trains are featured in Super Bell Subway, travelling in opposite directions on the track's two railroads - the red trains travel in the same direction as the racers on the left railroad, while oncoming blue trains will chug along on the right. Unlike the locomotives in previous Mario Kart tracks, the trains appearing in Super Bell Subway use a metro-style design instead of resembling a steam train, with Super Bell icons decorating the railcars' sides and rooftop grates.

Due to these subway trains' flatter, streamlined design, racers can land and drive on top of them from the raised platforms found at the sides of the subway tunnel - the front and back railcars of both trains even feature Dash Panels, rewarding racers who manage to stay on top without falling or land on the edge of the train with a speed boost, in addition to the trains' back end providing a trick opportunity. If a racer is hit by a train, it will sound its horn. Both the red and blue trains feature six railcars.

The cable cars in Toad Harbor act like the trains. If the player lands on a cable car while down the steep hill, they will bounce, and can perform a trick.

reappears in the Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Like in N64 Kalimari Desert 2 in Mario Kart Tour, there is only one train instead of two, though the train moves much faster. Again, the train has three passenger cars. also returns in the Booster Course Pass, and the trams found on the course return with it. Unlike in Mario Kart Tour, the trains knock over drivers that hit them, similar to previous games.

Mario Kart Tour
In Mario Kart Tour, trains launch drivers up in the air while giving them a Jump Boost. They can be taken out by hitting them with a Super Horn or by driving into them while invincible or under the effects of a Mega Mushroom, granting points in the process.

As in Mario Kart 7, the trains in N64 Kalimari Desert have three passenger cars. In N64 Kalimari Desert 2, only one train is present on the track, moving at a much slower speed. If a player waits long enough after a race, it can be seen that the barriers found at the second intersection in the normal and R variants, or at the first one in the T variant, do not affect the train.

Amsterdam Drift features two types of train. One of these is a train resembling a cross between a and a TWINDEXX Swiss Express, which travels on a viaduct along a canal that separates the Amsterdam and  segments of the track; the other is a tram pertaining to the Amsterdam  that resembles a series 725–779 tram, which moves back and forth along a short portion of the track near the finish line. The second type also appears in Amsterdam Drift 3.

Other trains with gameplay roles in the Mario Kart series
Flying trains appear in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on and in Merry Mountain. Flying trains also appear in Mario Kart Tour, also on Merry Mountain, and several bonus challenges on 3DS Rainbow Road. Toads ride on them and throw coins or rings on the track for the player, not too dissimilar to the sand ship in Bone-Dry Dunes. They can also carry Star Rings that can be glided through.

Trains also appear in the background of Sydney Sprint courses in Mario Kart Tour and the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In Mario Kart Tour, the passengers on the train resembling a throw items such as Green Shells, Mushrooms, and Bob-ombs onto the road, while in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe they throw coins.

In Berlin Byways 2 from Mario Kart Tour, and the first lap of from the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, a stationary train set closely resembling the  serves as an alternate side route inside of the, standing dormant on an  along the main path inside the station. This side route is not much faster than taking the main route, but it does contain two Item Boxes (one Double Item Box in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe) and allows easy access to the trick ramp at the exit of the Hauptbahnhof.