Rapid transit

:This article is about high-capacity urban rail public transit systems. For lower-order systems, see tram, light rail, bus, and bus rapid transit.

Similarities to light rail

There has always been some crossover between rapid transit and "lighter" streetcar/tram systems. For example, some lines of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company in New York City were elevated in built-up areas and ran at street level, often along streets, in less crowded areas.

Related Topics:
Streetcar - Tram - Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company - New York City

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In many German cities such as Hannover the opposite applies, with trams descending into underground tunnels to cross the city centre.

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In the other direction, interurban streetcars provided rapid transit-style transit from cities to suburbs and other cities, running mainly on separate rights-of-way (sometimes sharing tracks with intercity rail) but using streetcar equipment. Most interurbans have been abandoned, but some (like the Norristown High Speed Line near Philadelphia) have been reconstructed to rapid transit specifications.

Related Topics:
Interurban streetcar - Rights-of-way - Intercity rail - Streetcar - Norristown High Speed Line - Philadelphia

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Additionally, many streetcar/tram systems include underground and (less commonly) elevated sections, in which everything about the system except the right-of-way is built to streetcar standards. Notably, the first subway in the United States, Boston's Green Line, opened in 1897 to take streetcars off downtown streets, though it did carry elevated trains from 1901 until the Washington Street Subway opened.

Related Topics:
Streetcar - Tram - United States - Boston - Green Line - 1897 - 1901 - Washington Street Subway

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The coming of modern light rail in the 1970s brought new crossovers. New systems were built and old streetcar/tram systems were upgraded with higher capacity and speeds, but retaining some aspects of streetcars and trams. Some systems known as light rail, such as the Docklands Light Railway in London and New York City's AirTrain JFK, are rapid transit with some light-rail technologies (though the light rail in these cases may be a mislabeling of Bombardier's Advanced Rapid Transit). Other light-rail systems may use high platforms but otherwise run as streetcars. A few systems similar to interurban streetcars have even come back, such as New Jersey's River LINE, which operates over freight rails for most of its trip, and along streets on one end. The KCR Light Rail which runs as streetcars operates with hight platforms, with some of its sections elevated or right-of-way at street level, and some at ground-level by away from streets.

Related Topics:
Light rail - 1970s - Docklands Light Railway - London - New York City - AirTrain JFK - Bombardier - Advanced Rapid Transit - Interurban streetcar - New Jersey - River LINE - KCR Light Rail

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