These trains operate with more stops than inter-city rail, and unlike commuter rail,[citation needed] operate beyond the limits of urban areas, connecting smaller cities and towns.
Unlike inter-city services, regional trains stop at more stations and serve smaller communities.
Regional rail services are much less likely to be profitable than inter-city, so they often require government funding.
This is mainly because many passengers use monthly passes giving a lower price per ride, and that lower average speed gives less distance, meaning less ticket revenue per hour of operation.
Subsidies are justified on social or environmental grounds, and also because regional rail services often act as feeders for more profitable inter-city lines.