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Shared-Track: A Handbook of Examples and Applications 57
Physical Characteristics
Data collection begins with a description of the physical characteristics of the existing and pro-
posed new corridor. This includes length, grades, curves, grade crossings, bridges and tunnels,
sidings, crossovers, terminals, stations, facilities and other salient features. Table 7 shows a sam-
ple checklist:
Freight Operations: Describe the time of day, number of pickups and deliveries, any special
handling requirements, length of any sidings, crews, and number of cars.
Rail Transit Service: Describe the planned service characteristics, routing and stations in broad
terms, and the responsible entity for directing the project.
Vehicle Design: Identify vehicle options on the basis of performance, capacity, and other
desired features. The available choices at the outset are:
1. Push-Pull Commuter Rail Equipment (compliant locomotive and coaches);
2. MU Commuter Rail Equipment (compliant MU coaches either diesel or electric); and
3. Diesel or electric noncompliant light passenger rail cars.
Reasons to Consider Noncompliant Equipment
The underlying assumption for this research is that FRA compliant equipment is either imprac-
tical or unnecessary and only noncompliant equipment will suffice. The primary reason to con-
sider noncompliant equipment is the improved flexibility it offers. Because of the vehicle's phys-
ical characteristics, more routing options are possible. The constraints in curvature radius, grades,
clearance envelopes, limits of acceleration, and deceleration make a lighter rail vehicle a superior
choice for various environments. The following analysis explores the relative pros and cons of a
temporally separated, a concurrent shared-track, and a shared-corridor light rail operation.
Such an analysis should resolve whether or not a compliant vehicle is suitable for the applica-
tion. Once it is determined that only noncompliant equipment will suffice, then the next step is
an analysis of shared-track options.
A typical example of choice 3 is a self-propelled rail car (SPRC), a passenger rail car with a self-
contained, on-board source of motive power, making reliance on a locomotive or electric power
distribution system unnecessary. The light SPRC is more flexible than a locomotive hauled train
or an electric light rail passenger vehicle because it provides an economic means to operate pas-
senger rail service over a mix of railroad environments. As one illustration (Figure 5), an SPRC
Table 7. Worksheet 1--System parameters existing condition.
Route Miles
FRA Track Class Class I
Signal System Dark (Unsignaled)
Connection to Identify by milepost and type of connection, e.g., crossing, siding
Freight Tracks
Major Structures Identify type, length and milepost
Grade Crossings Identify milepost and type of warning system
Speed Limits 10 mph for freight trains
Passenger trains are not permitted
Freight Operations Describe as "Freight train originates..." " Exchanges outbound for
inbound cars at yard and returns to the point of origin...."
Freight Train Describe equipment, number of cars, speeds, locomotive fleet, cargo
types
Workforce List engineers, conductors and crews called per weekday
Rule Book Northeast Operating Rules Advisory Committee (NORAC) Rules or
whatever rule book applies
