How Many Tracks Do Train Stations Need?

Re:How Many Tracks Do Train Stations Need? by danhor on Friday June 17, 2022 @04:39AM (#31775590)

Looking at german Stadtbahn systems (trams with a evtensive dedicated RoW & central tunnels, but still a lot of street-running), they archieve headways down to 2 minutes, e.g. in on of the central sections of the Stuttgart Stadtbahn.

That should probably be doable on some american light rail systems, with signal priority and avoiding street running on roads with a lot of traffic congestion.

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Re:How Many Tracks Do Train Stations Need? by dredmorbius on Friday June 17, 2022 @05:26AM (#31775896)

Speed may be a factor, as stopping distance (and time) increase with speed. Low-speed LRV can achieve shorter headways.

BART operates up to 80 mph (128 kph), though I'm not sure it hits those speeds within San Francisco.

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Re:How Many Tracks Do Train Stations Need? by iggldiggl on Friday June 17, 2022 @03:49PM (#31783364)

For urban railways, stations are usually the capacity-limiting factor, so the top speed doesn't really enter into it, and besides

> though I'm not sure it hits those speeds within San Francisco.

due to the shorter station spacing I'd assume that, too.

As for the stations, the limiting factor in turn consists of the sum of dwell time (wheel stop to wheel start) and platform reoccupation time (governed by the signalling system).

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Re:How Many Tracks Do Train Stations Need? by dredmorbius on Saturday June 18, 2022 @12:12AM (#31787207)

That sounds about right.

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