Trains above street level

ELS

Think of the shortened name for elevated rail systems commonly found in cities like Chicago, often running on steel tracks above roads.

This clue refers to "ELS," short for "elevated trains," which run on tracks built above street level in cities like Chicago. The term is often used in transit slang, especially in the U.S., where systems like the Chicago "L" (short for "elevated") are iconic. The plural "ELS" fits the clue’s phrasing, hinting at multiple trains rather than a single line. It’s a straightforward definition with no hidden wordplay—just a nod to urban rail systems.