The three different systems operate in three quite different ways. The MAX system (light rail) has a lot of seperate right-of-way and has stops about every one mile or so. The Portland Streetcar operates in mixed traffic and functions more like a bus. Stops are every couple of blocks and the cars travel mixed in with motor vehicles.

The Beaverton-Wilsonville commuter line shares its operations with Portland & Western freight trains. Neither the MAX light trains nor the Portland Streetcar equipment can share trackage that is also used by freight trains. The Federal Railroad Administration does not permit non-compliant rail equipment (LRT/Streetcar) to operate on trackage shared by freight trains.

There are some operations that share the same trackage (ie San Diego trolley) but there is temporal seperation so the two will never meet. However, in the case of the Portland & Western operation, both freight trains and commuter trains will be operating over the same trackage at the same time.