User:ChiZeroOne/Sandbox3



A tram-train is a type of light rail vehicle that meets the standards of a light rail system (usually an urban street running tramway), but which also meets national mainline standards permitting operation alongside mainline trains. This allows services that can utilise both existing urban light rail systems and mainline railway networks & stations. It combines the urban accessibility of a tram or light rail with a mainline train's greater speed.

Traditional trams performing a similar function were known as interurbans, however the modern tram-train concept was pioneered by the Karlsruhe model in Germany in the early 1990s. It has since been adopted in other cities around the world such as Mulhouse in France and in Kassel and Saarbrücken in Germany.

An inversion of the concept is a train-tram; a mainline train adapted to run on-street in an urban tramway, also known as the Zwickau Model.

A tram train (other spellings: train-tram, train-tram) is a mixed rail transport system that runs within the conurbations as an intensive tram service when sharing the streets with other users (pedestrians, cars…) and that in the countryside it works like a train. In addition to being able to reuse underfunded or derelict infrastructure, its advantages, compared to the classic train as it passes through the city, is that it does not create any physical barriers to other users and is less expensive than tunneling solutions.

It allows more flexibility to use the existing railway infrastructure, disused lines completed with new infrastructure while bringing the stops where there is demand, closer to the users. [1] Slower in inhabited areas (30 to 50 km / h), in the countryside with more distant stops and on its own track can increase the speed of a train. Although the model dates back to the early 20th century, the first modern tram line was opened in 1992 in Karlsruhe , Germany. [2]

The idea seems simple, however, the integration of networks, designed independently, involves technical difficulties. Depending on the case, there are differences in industry standards, legal framework, width, electrical voltage, security systems, etc. Despite being made of iron, traditionally the wheels and rails of trams and trains are of a different section. [3] In addition to technical problems, which can still be easily solved, there are still psychological problems: entities such as local urban transport companies and national railway companies, which sometimes already find it difficult to integrate service schedules, now have to share infrastructure.

Projects and realizations in the Catalan Countries The Metropolitan Section of Alicante. Opened in 1999 as a tram and light train and in 2003 also operating as a tram-train. The FGC line Manresa-Súria and Manresa-Sallent. [2] The Bages tram train project would combine the use of 25 kilometers of freight branches on the Llobregat-Anoia line and 9.5 kilometers of new sections to connect the urban centers of Manresa, Súria and Sallent. [4] The TramGavarres [5] Girona- Girona-Flaçà-Costa Brava airport tram train project forming a ring surrounding the Gavarres mountain range [2] TramCamp or Tram Camp de Tarragona. [2] Tram train project that would link Tarragona, Reus, Salou and Cambrils using the railway line on the outskirts and newly built tram tracks inside the urban centers

Tramvlak, tram-train, a dual-system tramway, tram-train , TramTrain , bimodal tram , hybrid tram , connecting tram , karlsruheský model or model Karlsruhe are different names for the transport system and of the vehicle to enable crossing of the railway track on the tramline or to ride on the track, which has mixed features (for example, a railway line run by the municipality along the street), or rail passenger transport in general.

The advantage of the merged system is more efficient use of lines in sections where two tracks would otherwise run in parallel, and greater comfort for passengers who have to change less often. The most significant shortcoming is the transmission of irregularities from urban traffic to the railway network.

A duo tram, also called tram-train , is a tram that can run on both tramway and railway.

In its current form, the technology was created in Karlsruhe and it is also found in Kassel, Saarbrücken , Cologne / Bonn , Zwickau and Nordhausen , all in Germany , as well as in the Netherlands and New Jersey in the USA. Duo trams combine elements from traditional trams with features from light rail. Operation of such networks places special demands on trams. They must be able to handle different types of electricity and live up to the railway's requirements for signaling and other safety issues. Some duo trams are also diesel powered.

The link between tram and train, since about 2000 as a tram-train called, the creation is of disembarking passengers direct services between urban road or rail systems and regional railway lines. The aim is to link the city ​​center and the surrounding area. Multi-system vehicles are often used here ; in other cases, routes are adapted in such a way that the existing vehicles can transfer to the other system. Further alternative terms are regional light rail, regional tram, Regiotram , Stadtregiotram , Stadtregionalbahn , Stadt-Umland-Bahn , two-system (city) railway or multi-system (city) railway.

Links between trams and railways have existed since the end of the 19th century. Apart from local rail passenger transport (SPNV), they were used in many cities to transport goods wagons over the tram network, which could then be delivered directly to industrial companies in the urban area.

In addition to aspects of licensing law and the dual training of staff - as train drivers and tram drivers - numerous technical parameters must be taken into account when the vehicles are transferred from one mode of transport. This includes, above all, the dimensions of the wheel tires in conjunction with the heart of the points and the width of the grooved rails. In addition, there is the power system, the clearance profile, the platform height , the distance of the platform from the track, the train length, the minimum radius, the safety technology , the braking distanceand different crash norms. There are further differences with regard to lighting and warning signals, that is, while triple headlights and horns are required in rail traffic, direction indicators and bells or bells must be present in city traffic. In addition, the track width must match, otherwise three-rail tracks must be used.

Technology
The tram-train often is a type of interurban, i.e. they link separate towns or cities. according to George W. Hilton and John F. Due's definition.

Most tram-trains are standard gauge, which facilitates sharing track with main-line trains. Exceptions include Alicante Tram and Nordhausen, which are metre gauge.

Tram-train vehicles are dual-equipped to suit the needs of both tram and train operating modes, with support for multiple electrification voltages if required and safety equipment such as train stops and other railway signalling equipment. The Karlsruhe and Saarbrücken systems use "PZB" or "Indusi" automatic train protection, so that if the driver passes a signal at stop the emergency brakes are applied.

History
The idea is not new; in the early 20th century, interurban streetcar lines often operated on dedicated rights-of-way between towns, while running on street trackage in town. The first interurban to emerge in the United States was the Newark and Granville Street Railway in Ohio, which opened in 1889. In 1924, in Hobart, Australia, sharing of tracks between trams and trains was proposed.

The difference between modern tram-trains and the older interurbans and radial railways is that tram-trains are built to meet mainline railway standards, rather than ignoring them. An exception is the United States' River Line in New Jersey which runs along freight tracks with time separation: passenger trains run by day, and freight by night.

Japan

 * Ōtsu: Keihan Keishin Line
 * Fukui: Fukui Fukubu Line

Austria

 * Gmunden: Traunsee Tram (2018)
 * Vienna: Badner Bahn

Denmark

 * Aarhus Letbane
 * Nærum Line - Is considered a full heavy rail line domestically, however it's very short (7,8 km or 4.8 miles), today only serves suburban commuters, have a high frequency service (20 mins, 10 mins) and run units closely resembling tram-trains or railbuses (RegioSprinter). This makes it arguably a tram-train service in international eyes along the route that goes between two traffic hubs and current discussion on the integration of the line with the in-construction Copenhagen light rail system. However, as of 2021, the line is not electrified.

France

 * Lyon: Rhônexpress (2010)
 * Lyon: Tram-train de l'ouest lyonnais
 * Mulhouse: Mulhouse tramway
 * Nantes: Nantes tram-train (2011)
 * Île-de-France (Paris region):
 * Tramway Line 4 (2006)
 * Tramway Line 11 Express (2017)

Germany

 * Chemnitz: Chemnitz Tramway – 750 V DC
 * Karlsruhe: Stadtbahn Karlsruhe – 750 V DC/15 kV AC (1992)
 * Kassel: Kassel RegioTram (2006)
 * 600 V DC/15 kV AC and (different tram-trains)
 * 600 V DC/on-board Diesel generator
 * Nordhausen: Trams in Nordhausen – 600 V DC/on-board Diesel generator
 * Saarbrücken: Saarbahn
 * Zwickau: Trams in Zwickau – on-board Diesel generator (light-weight RegioSprinter diesel railbuses that also operate on street tramway)

Hungary

 * Szeged-Hódmezővásárhely tram-train (2021)

Italy

 * Cagliari: Cagliari light rail
 * Sassari: Metrosassari

Spain

 * Alicante: Alicante Tram (2007)
 * Mallorca: Mallorca rail network
 * Cádiz: Cádiz Bay tram-train (opening 2021)

United Kingdom

 * Sheffield - Rotherham: Sheffield Supertram (2018)
 * Wales & Borders franchise: South Wales Valley Lines (2022 - 2023) - rolling stock currently under construction.

North America

 * Austin, Texas: Capital MetroRail – commuter rail that shares more commonality with tram-train operation, with downtown street running and usage of mainline track. Uses diesel multiple units.
 * New Jersey: River Line – diesel multiple units using main line tracks between Trenton, New Jersey and Camden, New Jersey in a time-sharing agreement with the freight companies.
 * Salt Lake City: TRAX uses former Denver and Rio Grande tracks as well as street trackage to service Salt Lake City. Between the hours of midnight and six in the morning, Union Pacific freight trains use much of the trackage, up to just past 2500 S to service a number of industries along the line.
 * Oceanside: – Escondido: Sprinter uses track also used by BNSF for freight at night in the Escondido branch and also share track with Coaster Metrolink and Amtrak
 * San Diego: The MTS blue line is used at night for freight for the SD&IV
 * Puebla, Mexico: Puebla-Cholula Tourist Train

Africa

 * The October 6th Tram system (The O6T), Cairo, Egypt

Asia

 * Haifa–Nazareth, Israel
 * Keelung Light Rail Transit(Nangang-Keelung) Taiwan.

Europe
]]) is a 20 km (12.4 mi) line, 10 km will be tram'' section and the 10 km another will roll on national rail network.
 * Braunschweig, Germany
 * Bratislava, Slovakia
 * Erlangen, Germany – an extension of Straßenbahn Nürnberg not initially planned to use mainline rail tracks but proposed to do so in the future. The planned line to Herzogenaurach replicates a former mainline rail line
 * Grenoble, France
 * Groningen, Netherlands
 * île de France (Paris region), France. The system is called Tram Express by the transport authority STIF: 1 line already exists (Tramway Line 11 Express) and 2 lines are scheduled (Tramway Lines 12 Express and 13 Express). The light train rolling stock will only roll on national rail network in western line (Line 13 Express) a short section of 3.6 km (2.2 mi) is an urban tram section of the 19 km (11.8 mi) line. The southern line (''[[Île-de-France tramway Line 12 Express|Line 12 Express
 * Kiel, Germany
 * Kyiv, Ukraine
 * Košice, Slovakia (in planning phase)
 * León, Spain
 * Liberec — Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic
 * Linköping, Sweden
 * Manresa, Spain
 * Metro Mondego, Coimbra, Portugal
 * West Midlands Metro extensions in the West Midlands conurbation, England
 * Porto Metro Lines B and C, Porto, Portugal
 * RijnGouweLijn, Netherlands
 * Metro de Sevilla. Seville has one metro line and one tram line that are not connected, but the long-term intention is to link the metro and tram systems.
 * Sevastopol
 * Strasbourg, France
 * Szeged, Hungary. Two other destinations are being considered as of January 2022 besides the Szeged - Hódmezővásárhely line, which entered operation in November 2021. The Szeged - Subotica (Serbia) line is in early planning phase. . A preparatory study was also completed for the Szeged - Makó line, but the estimated costs were high, and it is also dependent on a new road-rail bridge over the river Tisa only in planning phase as of now.
 * TramCamp, Camp de Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
 * Wrocław, Poland (2005) — 600 V DC/3 kV DC
 * Riga, Latvia
 * Tampere, Finland
 * Turku, Finland

United Kingdom
A two-year tram-train pilot project is being undertaken between Sheffield and Rotherham. In the initial phase, from October 2017, Stadler Citylink tram-train vehicles (British Rail designation Class 399) were introduced onto the Sheffield tram network only. Late in 2018, with the completion of a chord at Tinsley connecting Rotherham Parkgate with Meadowhall Interchange, the tram-train vehicles operate on national rail tracks. If the trial proves successful, similar schemes could be rolled out across the UK.

In March 2008 the Department for Transport released details of a plan to trial diesel tram-trains on the Penistone line for two years starting in 2010. There was no commitment to connect them to the Sheffield tram network, and in September 2009 the idea was withdrawn as it was deemed not economically viable for a trial due to the cost of the extra development required for the diesel engines to meet the forthcoming stringent EU emission regulations. Instead single-voltage electric tram-trains will be trialled between Rotherham and Sheffield.

A tram-train trial in the Manchester area was ruled out as the Department for Transport wanted to try low-floor tram-trains, whereas Manchester Metrolink cars have high floors.

In August 2009 the Liverpool Daily Post reported that a new Merseyrail tram-train link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport was under consideration. The Merseyrail Northern line and the City line between Liverpool Lime Street and Liverpool South Parkway were being assessed. From South Parkway the tram-trains would transfer seamlessly to a new tramway. A link from Edge Hill in the east of the city to the Liverpool Arena at Kings Dock near the city centre was also considered.

Oceania

 * Adelaide, South Australia – On June 5, 2008, the Government of South Australia announced plans for train-tram operation on the Adelaide Metro's Outer Harbor/Grange train lines and City West-Glenelg tramline extension as part of a 10-year A$2 billion public transport upgrade.

South America

 * Bogotá Commuter Rail (RegioTram), Colombia
 * Cali, Colombia

Vehicles
Models of tram designed for tram-train operation include:
 * Alstom's RegioCitadis and Citadis Dualis, derived from the Citadis
 * Bombardier Flexity Link and Bombardier Flexity Swift
 * Siemens S70
 * Stadler Citylink