33:
215:
heterogeneity. In this context different types of trains means those that are slower than other trains, for example, freight and passenger trains. Freight trains often accelerate and brake more slowly than passenger, and have lower top speeds. Also passenger trains that have different stopping patterns, such as a local all stops service, when mixed with a limited or express service, will result in a reduction of route capacity. Route capacity is not lost where all the trains on one route stop at all stations, but only where trains with different stopping patterns are mixed together.
224:
Melbourne achieves 50 trams per hour during the morning peak, an average of 72 seconds per tram. For High Speed Rail a route capacity of up to 18 trains per hour may be possible. In 1932 Sydney introduced a signalling system theoretically capable of 42 trains per hour (about every 85 seconds), but in practice only achieved 36 trains per hour during testing in the 50s. In modern times, Punggol metro line in
Singapore uses a moving block system to achieve a headway of 90 seconds, so the route capacity is 40 trains per hour. The
274:. Many technical problems exist with the construction of any rail line that supports moving block, as this type of signalling system requires constant communication between signalling systems and trains, which is often achieved with a train radio system (but can be achieved other ways). Another problem is the signalling system needs to know the length of any train at all times, and so an engineering system is needed on all trains that can detect all carriages and wagons within the train.
22:
91:
Route capacity is often calculated and applied in the management and design of rail systems. For railways with very high passenger loads, the maximum possible route capacity is an important factor. A common unit for route capacity is people per hour (pph), which can for metro style systems can be as
82:
play a large role in determining route capacity. Along any route the capacity is limited to the point with the lowest capacity, and long routes may have their capacity compromised by one bottleneck. Where more vehicles enter a route than a single bottleneck can accept, then the route will be free of
107:
Route capacity depends on the number of passengers using a system, if only because this will affect the length of station stops. Much of the route capacity in an existing rail system will be used for existing timetabled rail movements. This is described as used capacity. What capacity remains to be
103:
In calculating route capacity it is important to consider practical considerations. Many railways will wish to operate at the maximum capacity for hours on any given day, and the theoretical capacity is not sustainable for more than a few trains. A reduced level of capacity, which can be maintained
67:
Any assessment of the effectiveness of a transport network includes a calculation of what capacity is used, how it is used, and whether it is used effectively. For instance, overloaded routes may need to be upgraded, or capacity provided by other routes. Unused capacity can represent an opportunity
130:
produces documents on a variety of rail related topics, and published a leaflet on rail capacity. This leaflet provides a method of calculating route capacity based on the creation of paths through a rail route. The number of paths for a "standard" train is created, and then the train paths added.
71:
External factors affect route capacity in different ways. Severely overcrowded highways will reduce the capacity of bus services. Severe snowfalls will reduce the capacity of highways and freeways, and high winds will make landing and departing airports difficult. In many cases route capacity will
76:
that can accept a wider range of vehicles being congested, and other more restrictive routes be underutilised. Rail traffic between the US and Mexico is limited by the types of vehicles, especially grain wagons, and as 2009 the only routes that could accept newer rail wagons passed through Texas.
75:
Routes can become congested where only a fraction of routes can accept certain traffic types. For example, a road may have a low bridge that restricts the height of any trucks (lorries), or a rail line may be unable to accept wagons loaded beyond a certain axle load. This will result in any route
95:
The maximum speed or average speed of rail traffic will have no impact on the route capacity where all train services are of the same type, and the stopping patterns are the same. Whilst slower trains will mean passengers take longer to reach their destination, the number of trains moving past a
223:
Rail systems vary greatly in performance and route capacity, with metro systems having the highest capacity. Tram and light rail systems have in theory very high route capacities, but in practice many systems only achieve route capacities of 12 vehicles per hour. That said, Swanston Street in
214:
Route capacity is maximised for any rail system when all the rail traffic is the same type. Mixing different types of trains, or even different stopping patterns, will result in a substantial reduction of capacity. Where different types of trains are mixed together this is sometimes called
249:
Stations in a railway system, and where train are required to stop to pick up or drop off passengers, serves to reduce the route capacity. This is particularly the case where trains of different stopping patterns are moving one after another through a rail system.
240:
The route capacity of freight rail systems is often limited by the terminal to which the freight is heading. Large terminals will be able to accept more freight trains, but a route capacity of 15 freight trains per hour would be very unusual.
232:
system is typically around 12 to 16 trains per hour, which is lower than a metro, as the trains are longer, and the traffic is often mixed with other rail services such as freight and intercity trains. By contrast the
92:
high as 80,000. Route capacity can also be expressed as number of vehicles per hour, such as 20 trains per hour (tph). Route capacities in rail lines with two tracks are almost always the same in either direction.
172:
55:
system, route capacity is generally the capacity of each vehicle, times the number of vehicles per train, times the number of trains per hour (tph). In this way, route capacity is highly dependent on
270:
represents a new type of signalling that allows the reduction of headways, and an improvement of route capacity. Moving block is a signalling principle that exists within a signalling system called
100:
to maintain a high throughput of trains. The speed of traffic will affect the required headway between trains (it is not simply proportional to the speed) and will thus affect the route capacity.
104:
for hours, is often calculated. A railway that operates at close to the level of theoretical capacity for extended periods will have lower punctuality (fewer trains arriving when timetabled).
118:
Rail capacity is often less affected by the weather than route capacity for aircraft. However it can be affected by e.g. snow blocking the line, or by buckled rails at high temperatures.
96:
specific point will remain the same. Route capacity at a particular period of time can be observed by an observer standing on a station platform. A slower rail system will require more
59:. Beyond this mathematical theory, capacity may be influenced by other factors such as slow zones, single-tracked areas, and infrastructure limitations, e.g. to useful train lengths.
432:
43:
is the maximum number of vehicles, people, or amount of freight than can travel a given route in a given amount of time, usually an hour. It may be limited by the worst
794:
115:. Increasing route capacity for a railway from, for example, 12 trains per hour, to 20 per hour, can be a very substantial project requiring substantial budgets.
237:
in Los
Angeles has a route capacity of 150 freight trains per day, which is high in comparison to other rail freight systems, but low compared to metros.
228:
achieves 40 trains an hour as well, additionally it has aimed to achieve 50 trains an hour in the future (a train every 72 seconds). Route capacity for a
254:
is the time taken from the opening of train doors at a station, to their closing again. Dwell times strongly influence route capacity in a rail system.
943:
912:
841:
504:
142:
68:
to move more people or goods: as the capacity exists no additional investment is needed. Many transport networks have unused capacity.
83:
congestion at all points except at the bottleneck. For this reason bottlenecks are often the focus of transport improvement projects.
131:
The total number of trains that can potentially enter the route, and leave it, as well as the actual number, can then be determined.
480:
459:
989:
126:
There are two main methods of calculating route capacity; using the method outlined in UIC 406, and by using headways. The
958:
816:
526:
324:
296:
427:
47:
in the system, such as a stretch of road with fewer lanes. Air traffic route capacity is affected by weather. For a
984:
127:
940:
284:
696:
672:
574:
455:
72:
vary day to day depending on external factors. Rail systems are more rarely affected by external factors.
891:
974:
330:
271:
769:
744:
647:
622:
979:
379:
313:
44:
32:
866:
374:
307:
209:
961:
This website has an excellent discussion of signalling principles, but it is a little complex.
336:
318:
48:
301:
8:
598:
550:
405:
341:
251:
369:
346:
79:
234:
229:
720:
400:
947:
263:
134:
The classic formula for the calculation of a route capacity from a headway is:
112:
111:
Increasing route capacity for a rail system requires substantial investment in
968:
867:"Signalling and Platform Screen Doors for Singapore MRT - The NorthEast Line"
210:
Reducing route capacities by mixing different types of rail services together
97:
364:
351:
267:
225:
25:
290:
52:
889:
21:
354: – Study of interactions between travellers and infrastructure
167:{\displaystyle {\text{route capacity}}={\frac {1}{\text{headway}}}}
218:
327: – Measure of passenger capacity of a transportation network
287: – Measurement of how many vehicles travel on a certain road
56:
721:"Implementation of the UIC 406 method at the Austrian Railways"
206:
hours) translates into a route capacity of 15 trains per hour.
257:
108:
allocated to additional trains is called available capacity.
697:"Techniques and methodologies for railway capacity analysis"
673:"Techniques and methodologies for railway capacity analysis"
293: – High passenger vehicle occupancy leading to crushing
913:"How to Double Railway Capacity without Building new Track"
953:
145:
802:FUTURE MELBOURNE (CONNECTED CITY) COMMITTEE REPORT
166:
966:
321: – Capacity utilization of public transport
244:
795:"SWANSTON STREET NORTH PROPOSED TRAM PLATFORMS"
262:Many rail systems use a fixed block system for
219:Route capacities in different types of railways
36:Passenger Capacity of different Transport Modes
453:
121:
505:"North American Rail Congestion and Effects"
333: – Number of passengers using a service
16:Maximum occupancy of a route in a given time
890:Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority.
864:
258:Route capacities and moving block headways
86:
954:"International Union of Railways website"
814:
524:
31:
20:
456:"Weather Impacts on Air Route Capacity"
190:For example, a headway of 4 minutes (=
967:
393:
839:
460:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
447:
428:"Military definition route capacity"
136:
358:
13:
14:
1001:
934:
842:"CityRail: A system on the brink"
325:Passengers per hour per direction
297:Environmental impact of transport
770:"An Evaluation of Rail Capacity"
745:"An Evaluation of Rail Capacity"
648:"An Evaluation of Rail Capacity"
623:"An Evaluation of Rail Capacity"
599:"An Assessment of Rail Capacity"
575:"An Assessment of Rail Capacity"
551:"An Assessment of Rail Capacity"
905:
883:
858:
833:
808:
787:
762:
737:
713:
689:
665:
640:
615:
128:International Union of Railways
591:
567:
543:
518:
497:
473:
420:
1:
817:"High Speed Railway Capacity"
527:"High Speed Railway Capacity"
386:
245:Route capacities and stations
285:Annual average daily traffic
7:
990:Scheduling (transportation)
917:Infrastructure Intelligence
433:Military Factory Definition
277:
180:
62:
10:
1006:
950:leaflet on route capacity.
481:"RailRoad Capacity Issues"
331:Patronage (transportation)
302:Headway and route capacity
272:automatic train protection
122:Calculating route capacity
959:"Railway technical pages"
380:Absolute block signalling
314:Passenger car equivalent
235:Alameda Freight Corridor
985:Transportation planning
375:Signalling block system
308:Highway Capacity Manual
87:Application to railways
946:June 16, 2015, at the
840:James, Semple (2009).
168:
37:
29:
337:Public transportation
319:Passenger load factor
169:
35:
24:
892:"Alameda Fact Sheet"
454:Lincoln Laboratory.
143:
406:The Free Dictionary
342:Terminal dwell time
370:Railway signalling
347:Traffic congestion
164:
38:
30:
975:Rail technologies
775:. 2006. p. 5
653:. 2006. p. 5
188:
187:
162:
161:
149:
997:
980:Public transport
928:
927:
925:
923:
909:
903:
902:
900:
898:
887:
881:
880:
878:
876:
871:
865:St Engineering.
862:
856:
855:
853:
851:
846:
837:
831:
830:
828:
826:
821:
812:
806:
805:
804:. April 5, 2011.
799:
791:
785:
784:
782:
780:
774:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
749:
741:
735:
734:
732:
730:
725:
717:
711:
710:
708:
706:
701:
693:
687:
686:
684:
682:
677:
669:
663:
662:
660:
658:
652:
644:
638:
637:
635:
633:
627:
619:
613:
612:
610:
608:
603:
595:
589:
588:
586:
584:
579:
571:
565:
564:
562:
560:
555:
547:
541:
540:
538:
536:
531:
522:
516:
515:
513:
511:
501:
495:
494:
492:
490:
485:
477:
471:
470:
468:
466:
451:
445:
444:
442:
440:
424:
418:
417:
415:
413:
401:"route capacity"
397:
359:Railway specific
205:
203:
202:
199:
196:
182:
173:
171:
170:
165:
163:
159:
155:
150:
147:
137:
1005:
1004:
1000:
999:
998:
996:
995:
994:
965:
964:
948:Wayback Machine
937:
932:
931:
921:
919:
911:
910:
906:
896:
894:
888:
884:
874:
872:
869:
863:
859:
849:
847:
844:
838:
834:
824:
822:
819:
813:
809:
797:
793:
792:
788:
778:
776:
772:
768:
767:
763:
753:
751:
747:
743:
742:
738:
728:
726:
723:
719:
718:
714:
704:
702:
699:
695:
694:
690:
680:
678:
675:
671:
670:
666:
656:
654:
650:
646:
645:
641:
631:
629:
625:
621:
620:
616:
606:
604:
601:
597:
596:
592:
582:
580:
577:
573:
572:
568:
558:
556:
553:
549:
548:
544:
534:
532:
529:
523:
519:
509:
507:
503:
502:
498:
488:
486:
483:
479:
478:
474:
464:
462:
452:
448:
438:
436:
426:
425:
421:
411:
409:
399:
398:
394:
389:
384:
361:
280:
260:
247:
221:
212:
200:
197:
194:
193:
191:
154:
146:
144:
141:
140:
124:
89:
65:
28:, Hanover, 2000
17:
12:
11:
5:
1003:
993:
992:
987:
982:
977:
963:
962:
956:
951:
936:
935:External links
933:
930:
929:
904:
882:
857:
832:
815:Piers Connor.
807:
786:
761:
736:
712:
688:
664:
639:
614:
590:
566:
542:
525:Piers Connor.
517:
496:
472:
446:
419:
391:
390:
388:
385:
383:
382:
377:
372:
367:
360:
357:
356:
355:
349:
344:
339:
334:
328:
322:
316:
311:
304:
299:
294:
288:
281:
279:
276:
259:
256:
246:
243:
220:
217:
211:
208:
186:
185:
176:
174:
158:
153:
148:route capacity
123:
120:
113:infrastructure
88:
85:
64:
61:
41:Route capacity
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1002:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
972:
970:
960:
957:
955:
952:
949:
945:
942:
939:
938:
918:
914:
908:
893:
886:
868:
861:
843:
836:
818:
811:
803:
796:
790:
771:
765:
746:
740:
722:
716:
698:
692:
674:
668:
649:
643:
624:
618:
600:
594:
576:
570:
552:
546:
528:
521:
506:
500:
482:
476:
465:September 17,
461:
457:
450:
435:
434:
429:
423:
412:September 17,
408:
407:
402:
396:
392:
381:
378:
376:
373:
371:
368:
366:
363:
362:
353:
350:
348:
345:
343:
340:
338:
335:
332:
329:
326:
323:
320:
317:
315:
312:
310:
309:
305:
303:
300:
298:
295:
292:
289:
286:
283:
282:
275:
273:
269:
265:
255:
253:
242:
238:
236:
231:
230:commuter rail
227:
216:
207:
184:
177:
175:
156:
151:
139:
138:
135:
132:
129:
119:
116:
114:
109:
105:
101:
99:
98:rolling stock
93:
84:
81:
77:
73:
69:
60:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
34:
27:
23:
19:
920:. Retrieved
916:
907:
897:February 11,
895:. Retrieved
885:
875:February 11,
873:. Retrieved
860:
848:. Retrieved
835:
823:. Retrieved
810:
801:
789:
777:. Retrieved
764:
752:. Retrieved
739:
729:February 11,
727:. Retrieved
715:
703:. Retrieved
691:
679:. Retrieved
667:
655:. Retrieved
642:
630:. Retrieved
617:
605:. Retrieved
593:
581:. Retrieved
569:
557:. Retrieved
545:
533:. Retrieved
520:
510:February 14,
508:. Retrieved
499:
489:February 12,
487:. Retrieved
475:
463:. Retrieved
449:
439:February 10,
437:. Retrieved
431:
422:
410:. Retrieved
404:
395:
365:Moving block
352:Traffic flow
306:
268:Moving block
261:
248:
239:
226:Moscow Metro
222:
213:
189:
178:
133:
125:
117:
110:
106:
102:
94:
90:
78:
74:
70:
66:
40:
39:
26:Gondola lift
18:
922:February 7,
825:February 7,
779:February 5,
754:February 5,
705:February 7,
681:February 7,
657:February 5,
632:February 5,
607:February 5,
583:February 5,
559:February 5,
535:February 7,
80:Bottlenecks
969:Categories
387:References
291:Crush load
264:signalling
252:Dwell time
53:light rail
45:bottleneck
941:"UIC 406"
944:Archived
278:See also
63:Overview
850:May 18,
204:
192:
160:headway
57:headway
750:. 2006
628:. 2006
870:(PDF)
845:(PDF)
820:(PDF)
798:(PDF)
773:(PDF)
748:(PDF)
724:(PDF)
700:(PDF)
676:(PDF)
651:(PDF)
626:(PDF)
602:(PDF)
578:(PDF)
554:(PDF)
530:(PDF)
484:(PDF)
51:or a
49:metro
924:2016
899:2016
877:2016
852:2020
827:2016
781:2016
756:2016
731:2016
707:2016
683:2016
659:2016
634:2016
609:2016
585:2016
561:2016
537:2016
512:2016
491:2016
467:2015
441:2016
414:2015
971::
915:.
800:.
458:.
430:.
403:.
266:.
201:60
926:.
901:.
879:.
854:.
829:.
783:.
758:.
733:.
709:.
685:.
661:.
636:.
611:.
587:.
563:.
539:.
514:.
493:.
469:.
443:.
416:.
198:/
195:4
183:)
181:1
179:(
157:1
152:=
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
