Re: Fwd: Tram, Light Rail and Metro
  Matthew Geier

On 21/02/17 10:01, pf4366pf4366@... [TramsDownUnder] wrote:
>


> Metro is trains running in their own mostly segregated tracls with high

> platforms. Thi gs gdt confsed among peole when they see some metros

> running through streets, but still high loading ?


The main example I remember is Tunis, capital of Tunisia.
They wanted an underground Metro, but no way they could raise that sort
of money. So they ended up with Siemens TW6000 Stadtbahn cars, high
floor, folding steps. Major stations had high platforms, but once they
got out into the suburbs, low platforms. (cheaper). It was all surface /
street reservation running. Very little 'shared' running.

It's official (French) name is Métro léger de Tunis.

They even have ticket offices on all stations and originally had
automated fare collection (all out of use by the time I visited).

After their 'revolution' they needed to acquire some more cars for the
expanding system. The French sent their team in, so the city now has a
number of Citadis. Low floor cars, restricted to routes that never got
high platforms. Now there is a project to remove the high platforms they
did have so the Citadis can operate every where.

But the name 'metro' continues to be used for what is basically a modern
light rail network of surface tracks.

The Sevilla Metro, tunnels under the city centre, fully separate
alignment, platform doors, ATO. Classic 'metro' railway. However the
rolling stock are low floor Urbos 2 cars. The only 'concession' to being
a Metro instead of light rail, is the drivers desk looks like one from a
train, not a tram. And the things drive them selves if the operator
presses the button labelled 'ATO'. I never understood why they accepted
the engineering compromises of a low floor vehicle if they were 100%
segregated and used heavy rail like stations many of which have platform
doors.

Like many terms that once had engineering meaning, they have been
'stolen' by the marketers and their meanings twisted, sometimes beyond
recognition.
I work in Information Technology - a discipline that are masters in
taking tech terms and mutating them into meaningless spin.