Trainland Railroad Services Corp.
Specialists in "Ultra-lite rail" Narrow Gage Installations.
Rail Transit Options
Light-rail Transportation Systems
The transportation systems addressed here are rail-related systems and are as follows:
a) Light Rail Systems (60 mph)-(65to90lbRail),
b) Monorail Systems (40-50 mph) and
c) Narrow Gauge Ultra-light Rail Systems (up to 32 mph)-(20to40lb Rail).
Most transportation systems are very expensive, running into many millions per mile. See the following comparisons.
Light Rail
One of the advantages of Light Rail is it can be put in at grade. However, when put in at grade it overwhelmingly infringes on roadways. Or, it can be elevated, which requires very expensive changes in roadways including bridges and elevated stations. Many times it also requires extensive high cost land acquisition for right-of-way. Right-of-ways are usually 60 feet or more. Stops are at a minimum 1,300 to 1,500 feet apart. And it is a major project to put a system in with torn up streets for months at a time.
These higher speed Light Rail trains travel up to 60 mph when in open territory going from suburb to suburb. So, for long distance connectors, they are a very important consideration for helping to get cars off the stop and go, bumper to bumper freeways. But, one of the most important considerations is feasibility. Although are exceptions, Light Rail Systems operate very in-efficiently and they require major annual subsidies. They are high initial cost, high maintenance cost and heavy operation cost systems without the infrastructure (feeders and connectors) to support them. However, because the government funds the bulk of the initial cost, and the local and state governments fund the operations deficit, there is little concern until its too late.
Monorail Systems
are also very expensive to install and operate. Numerous of the problems challenging light rail systems are minimized with the installation of a monorail system. Monorail Systems eliminate grade crossings. Monorail installation does not tear up the streets for months at a time. It requires fewer right of ways and virtually eliminates many of the right of way land acquisitions required for regular light rail. However, a monorail requires that all stations be elevated which significantly adds to the cost. If (Light Rail) is required to cross other existing rail lines or sidings, it has a significant and expensive problem to solve. In the same situation, a monorail may require extra height or a greater span but it is relatively inexpensive by comparison.
“Ultra Light Rail” Narrow Gauge Systems
The “Ultra Light Rail” marrow gauge fits the characteristics of the Government defined Greenway Transit System. It is a pedestrian friendly, low to the ground slower speed narrow gauge trolley system.
As an independent Transit System, it is a low initial cost, low maintenance transportation system that will run at a pace of from 10 to 12 miles per hour to a top speed of 32 mph. It requires only a 10 to 12-foot right-of-way giving it the possibility of being installed between the sidewalk and the curb in many cases. These narrow gauge trolleys have the classic Charm of the Victorian Era and will enhance the image of any community they serve. Because of the low initial cost, low maintenance and operation cost, these Trolleys can and will operate at a profit for the community they serve. They can feasibly stop every 200-400 feet, thereby serving the local pedestrian community much better. They are much more handicap and user friendly with canopied bus type waiting stations instead of the full fledged rapid transit stations.
As A Feeder: Because of their ultra light weight, these Trolley Rail Systems are very inexpensive to install and maintain. As a feeder and or a connector to light rail or monorail, These systems can be an inexpensive support to light rail. In short, they will collect the people and feed them to the interurban transit system whether light rail or monorail. Thereby it will serve as an integral part of the infrastructure to help make the interurban system feasible. In cities where the infrastructure is not in place, the light rail systems operate at a significant loss and require taxes to pay for their operating deficit.
Trainland Railroad Services Corp can be your complete “Ultra Light Rail” transportation provider, and offer you a complete turn-key system at a savings of literally millions of dollars when compared to these other forms of light rail. These Ultra Light Rail transit systems are a near perfect transportation alternative for short distance transportation, connectors and feeders, such as residential to shopping, downtown to light or monorail terminals, air terminal to air terminal, perimeter parking to downtown, Convention Center to a Hotel(s) or a system for zoos and civic parks.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the various systems
Light Rail System
Advantages:
a) Speed – 60 mph.
b) Comfort.
c) Modern sleek equipment.
d) Space – very good utility use.
e) Potential grade-level operations.
f) Grade level stations.
Dis-advantages:
a) Streets torn up for months at a time during construction and or installation.
b) Wide right-of-ways required whether straight or curved.
c) Stops of less than 1300 feet impractical.
d) High cost land acquisition for right-of-ways.
e) High cost equipment.
f) Lengthy time of construction.
g) Grade crossings with other railroad tracks requires many approvals from the railroad involved to the Federal Government and a very very expensive signal system.
h) Safety considerations
Monorail
Advantages:
a) Short Term in-obtrusive construction/installation period.
b) Speeds up to 50 mph.
c) Reasonable Comfort.
d) Very high tech modern sleek equipment.
e) No grade crossings.
f) Limited Right-of-way required therefore, very little, if any land acquisition is required.
g) Can attractively run overhead in streets where many businesses can be served.
h) High profile image for municipality using such a system.
Disadvantages:
a) All stations have to be much higher cost elevated stations.
b) Elevators or significantly more space required for ramps for stations to qualify for ADA (American Disabilities Act) approval.
c) Repair parts and supplies are unique to monorail technology and therefore are available mainly from the Monorail System provider. They unlikely to be available locally or as off the shelf products. Therefore a larger volume of repair and maintenance parts would have to be kept on hand.
d) Although much safer than grade crossings, expensive extended and raised spans over existing roadways and rail lines. However, cost advantage between Light Rail and Monorail would favor Monorail for such roadway and rail line crossings.
e) Impractical to stop more often than 1,000 – 1,200 feet.
f) High cost equipment.
Narrow Gauge Trolleys
Advantages:
a) Low cost, basic technology equipment.
b) Low cost track installation.
c) 10 to 12 foot right-of-way can run between Sidewalk and Curb in many cases.
d) Low maintenance cost of system once installed.
e) Charming Victorian image for the community it serves.
f) Non-intimidating very user friendly - can stop every 200 to 400 feet. Can serve and qualify for Government TEA 21 Funded Transit Greenway Projects.
g) Self contained self-propelled electric trolley-no overhead wires or ground-level third rail-almost pollution free.
h) Can travel in and as part of the traffic and can handle street intersections, right or left turns of 36-foot radius.
Disadvantages:
a) Limited to 32-mph top speed.
b) Designed for short distances only.
c) Exposed to traffic at driveways and intersections.