Lego trains are very popular amongst AFOLs (Adult fans of LEGO). Various Lego Train Clubs (LTCs) exist around the world. A worldwide Lego train organization ILTCO was founded to channel common LTC interests and to promote Lego railroading as model train standard (named "L gauge" similar to model railroad gauges such as "Z", "N" and "HO").

The relatively low popularity of LEGO trains largely due to their expense has seen the slow withdrawal of trains from many regular retail outlets; currently Lego Shop-at-home (which only ships to a limited number of countries) and Lego retail stores are the only reliable source of LEGO train sets and accessories.

A number of LEGO® train clubs around the world exhibit large model train layouts made of Lego bricks at various community functions, train shows, and Lego conventions, such as BrickFest. Some of the largest layouts in the United States have been the result of combined efforts by several train clubs at the 2005, 2006, and 2007 NMRA national conventions. Lego Direct has also introduced train sets designed by members of the Lego community (for example, model 10022 by James Mathis), and more recently the Train Factory set (10183) in March 2007.