Reserved track
Track reserved for trams
Reserved track, in tram transport terminology, is track on ground exclusively for trams. This can be in the form of a dedicated part of a street, or a reserved section of tracks that are isolated from other traffic.
01Description
Unlike a street running track embedded in streets and roads, a reserved track does not need to accommodate the transit of other wheeled vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, or horses. It is the cheapest form of tram track to install (not counting land acquisition costs) and is usually constructed like a railway track with conventional sleepers (railroad ties).
Many modern tramway/light-rail systems operate on reserved track that was formerly part of a heavy-rail network. Some examples of these are: in Manchester, London, Nottingham (UK), Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide (Australia).
Tram transport tracks can be either reserved or street-running.
02Semi-reserved track
An intermediate form, whereby tramlines are laid in the middle of a road, and segregated from other road users either by being raised approximately 10 centimeters above street level, and/or with small studs, or simply by a painted white line. This space is normally for trams only, or for trams, buses, taxis, and emergency vehicles. However, ordinary traffic may cross into the tram lane to pass parked vehicles. In Belgium this is known as a bijzondere overrijdbare bedding or site spécial franchissable. The tram lane may be roughened by paving it with cobbles as an additional deterrent to use by rubber-tired vehicles.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Reserved track”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Combino trams in Nordhausen - 2015.JPG by Vincent Eisfeld, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Schwerin Tatra Cars 105 and 205, Platz der Jugend, October 1994.jpg by Felix O, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 20230916 155452 September 2023 in Warsaw.jpg by Rakoon, CC0
- Tram approaching Ashton terminus, geograph 3808817 by Alan Murray Rust.jpg by Alan Murray Rust, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.
