A subway train is a magically-powered vehicle used to transport passengers quickly across great horizontal distances. The subway train system was designed and constructed by Irynian magitech engineers in the 980s, with lines opening to the public in stages through the 990s. The subway was an immediate success, allowing Irynians to bypass the city's often-crowded streets to more easily access employment, education, and other city services. A similar system has been implemented in Oxana, and has been attempted on other islands, but these have been far less successful. The design of subway cars was heavily inspired by the pre-existing elevator, with specifications and features adapted to suit horizontal rather than vertical movement.
In the mid 800s, experimental excavations were conducted beneath Iryna to gauge the viability of underground housing to expand the residential space available in the city. This project proved to be incredibly unpopular and was shelved before any major constructions were initiated. The majority of these abandoned tunnels were repurposed and expanded to house the subway train system.
Each subway train is 12 feet by 24 feet in length and width, with a capacity of approximately 120 persons, depending on their size. The longer sides of each train have doors that open to allow passengers to enter and exit; the shorter sides have benches for passengers to sit. The central area of the train is open, with metal grab bars and overhead straps for passengers to hold while the train is moving. The interior is typically densely packed with sitting and standing passengers; some Irynians find the layout of subway trains to be prohibitively cramped, including disabled passengers who use motorized mobility aids and chimerafolk who are unable to sit. Space is even more limited if the train is being occupied by subway performers, who travel along the lines to entertain passengers in exchange for tips, although many Irynians are find these performers to be more exasperating than entertaining.
Subway trains possess an interior arcane core that is powered through a mythril rail running below the train. Unlike magitech devices such as SmartStones, which need to be periodically turned off to allow the core to recharge, subway trains can run without pause because of the arcane energy conducted through their rails. The exposed mythril rails attract rats, who gnaw on the metal to feed on the arcane energy within. These "rail rats" grow to massive sizes, act aggressively towards transportation officials, and can even derail trains by compromising the stability of the rail.
There are three subway lines: the Center Line, the Outer Loop, and the Inner Loop. The Outer Loop contains 25 stops, roughly following the perimeter of the island, connecting all six of Iryna's lower districts. The Inner Loop contains 11 stops; it intersects with the two other lines and thus is often used to transfer between them. The Center Line contains 15 stops, travelling in a straight line across the diameter of Iryna. Center Line stops are located closer to each other than Outer or Inner Loop stops, allowing passengers more control over where they embark or disembark.
Subway stations are accessed using staircases and elevators that descend from street level. The majority of stations are only passed through by one line, but seven stations allow passengers to switch trains without returning to street level. Trains run in both directions along each line, so passengers must ensure that they are on the correct line headed in the correct direction. Once a train reaches the end of a line, it reverses course and runs in the opposite direction. Trains run automatically, their doors opening and closing at every stop on a timer, requiring passengers to hurry on board or risk missing the train. The subway system is continually monitored by transportation officials, who possess a manual override if there is an emergency of any kind aboard any train.