surface subway
n.— «One thing that Aaron should absolutely be ashamed of himself for is his use of the phrase “surface subway.” Subways and elevated trains speed people along because they’re grade-separated. You just can’t go that fast on the surface, even if you have a dedicated right-of-way and signal priority. A surface subway is nonsense.» —“I Want a Nice Big Imitation Steak” Cap’n Transit Rides Again Jan. 19, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear...
Understanding the varieties of conversational styles can mean the difference between feeling you’re understood and being insulted. “High-involvement” speakers interrupt or talk along with someone else to signal their enthusiasm...
Here is something close. Part of Philadelphia transportation system is known as “subway surface.” These are trolley cars that run on the streets at the outer portion of the city and then descend into subway lines when they get near the center of the city.