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Re: Can freight trains ever operate on track where Light Rail Operates
Author: Ernest H. Robl
Date: 10-13-2024 - 18:08
It depends on a lot of factors. Among them:
How heavy is the rail? How heavy (axle load) is the freight train? Tight turns on light rail systems may not be suitable for most freight cars.
What are the clearances? High level platforms would cause problems with most freight cars. How high is the overhead wire? How tall are the freight cars?
Where the light rail system has long stretches of dedicated right of way with ballasted track, you typically want sufficient clearances so that normal ballast cars can be brought onto the line.
Not all light rail systems are interconnected with the national rail network; some are. This allows delivery of light rail rolling stock (on flat cars) by rail, as well as delivery of other heavy items such as replacement traction motors, etc. But in these cases, not all of the light rail system would have sufficient clearances. One such example is Denver RTD. It can bring full size freight cars into its shop area from a nearby freight yard. But, these cars would probably not be able to move beyond the shop area due to clearance issues.
How heavy is the rail? How heavy (axle load) is the freight train? Tight turns on light rail systems may not be suitable for most freight cars.
What are the clearances? High level platforms would cause problems with most freight cars. How high is the overhead wire? How tall are the freight cars?
Where the light rail system has long stretches of dedicated right of way with ballasted track, you typically want sufficient clearances so that normal ballast cars can be brought onto the line.
Not all light rail systems are interconnected with the national rail network; some are. This allows delivery of light rail rolling stock (on flat cars) by rail, as well as delivery of other heavy items such as replacement traction motors, etc. But in these cases, not all of the light rail system would have sufficient clearances. One such example is Denver RTD. It can bring full size freight cars into its shop area from a nearby freight yard. But, these cars would probably not be able to move beyond the shop area due to clearance issues.
