Train (obstacle)

The Kalimari Desert train in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Trains appear in the Super Mario franchise as obstacles in the Mario Kart series.

History

Mario Kart 64

A train going through the first crossing

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 4-4-0 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 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 engines now have only three passenger cars each, and they ride slightly more slowly. In the multiplayer mode, only one train is available.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The trains in Super Bell Subway

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.

On N64 Rainbow Road, a flying train appears. Toads ride on it and throw coins onto the track for the racers, not too dissimilar to the sand ship in Bone-Dry Dunes.

Several tracks with trains were added in the Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. On N64 Kalimari Desert, there is only one train instead of two, akin to N64 Kalimari Desert 2 in Mario Kart Tour, though the train moves much faster. Again, the train has three passenger cars. In the background of Sydney Sprint, the Toads riding the train throw coins. On the first lap of Tour Berlin Byways, a train appears in the alternate side route inside of the Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Unlike in Mario Kart Tour, the path ends with one Double Item Box. Tour Amsterdam Drift also returns, 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. On Merry Mountain, there is a flying train carrying wrapped presents with a car that resembles a sleigh. Like N64 Rainbow Road, the Toads riding the train toss coins onto the track.

Mario Kart Tour

The two types of train that appear in Amsterdam Drift

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.

Trains also appear in the background of Sydney Sprint courses. The passengers on the train resembling a Sydney Trains Tangara Set throw items such as Green Shells, Mushrooms, and Bob-ombs onto the road.

Amsterdam Drift features two types of train. One of these is a train resembling a cross between a NS VIRM and a TWINDEXX Swiss Express, which travels on a viaduct along a canal that separates the Amsterdam and Zaanse Schans segments of the track; the other is a tram pertaining to the Amsterdam tram line 14 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.

In Berlin Byways 2, a stationary train set closely resembling the DR Class 270 serves as an alternate side route inside of the Berlin Hauptbahnhof, standing dormant on an S-Bahn 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 and allows easy access to the trick ramp at the exit of the Hauptbahnhof.

The flying train in 3DS Rainbow Road in Mario Kart Tour

Flying trains appear in 3DS Rainbow Road during Ring Races and Merry Mountain. Unlike other flying trains, the flying train in the Ring Race tosses rings and Star Rings that can be glided through.

Gallery

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  Japanese commercial for Mario Kart 64

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  Artwork of the train for Mario Kart 64

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  The train on a Mario Kart 64 trading card

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  The train in Kalimari Desert's course icon

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  The train as seen from the front

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  The train in Mario Kart 7

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  View of the Kalimari Desert train in Mario Kart Tour

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  The first type of train that appears in Amsterdam Drift

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  The second type of train that appears in Amsterdam Drift

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  The N64 Kalimari Desert train in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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  The Merry Mountain train in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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  The Tour Amsterdam Drift train in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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  The Tour Amsterdam Drift tram in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning	Notes
Japanese	列車[?] Ressha	Train
	れっしゃ[?] Ressha		Mario Kart Tour
Chinese (simplified)	列车[?] Lièchē	Train
Chinese (traditional)	列車[?] Lièchē	Train
Dutch	Trein	Train
French	Train[?]	-
German	Zug[?]	Train
Italian	Treno[?]	Train
Korean	기차[?] Gicha	Train
Portuguese (NOA)	Trem[?]	Train
Portuguese (NOE)	Comboio	Train
Spanish	Tren[?]	Train