Railroad Forums
How long/short do Commuter Rail Platforms have to be?
- General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.
Moderators: mtuandrew, gprimr1
by PRRGuy
NICTD has platforms from 2 cars to 8 cars long. I know Metra Electric has mostly 6 car platforms.
by PRRGuy
Really? I knew there were a few 2 car ones out there. I never could get a clear picture passing by at 55 mph lol.
by pennsy
Hi All,
Metrolink stations are quite long and can easily accomodate trains of ten cars. So far the most I have ever seen was six cars. I would imagine that with ten cars the train would have an F-59 at both ends. At LATC, the tracks accomodate two trains each. I recently left from LATC on the San Bernardino line from track 7B. 7A was the same track but in front of us, and that train left first. Metrolink uses tracks three through ten. All can take two trains. Each train has a maximum of six cars, usually four.
Metrolink stations are quite long and can easily accomodate trains of ten cars. So far the most I have ever seen was six cars. I would imagine that with ten cars the train would have an F-59 at both ends. At LATC, the tracks accomodate two trains each. I recently left from LATC on the San Bernardino line from track 7B. 7A was the same track but in front of us, and that train left first. Metrolink uses tracks three through ten. All can take two trains. Each train has a maximum of six cars, usually four.
by M&Eman
Just to compare, on NJT, the smallest (non-dinky) trains are 2-car MU's and diesel push-pulls. Our longest trains are 12-MU's (and 2 12-car electric push pull sets as well). Only the NEC sees trains longer than ten cars. Trenton acts much like LAUPT and Center City Philly with two trains to a platform. NYP and Hoboken both only have 8-car platforms. The longest single train platform is the 14-car platform at Princeton Junction. The shortest legnths are zero, at Finderne and Manasquan. Yes, we have two platform-less stations. Standards vary by line.
by Irish Chieftain
M&Eman wrote:NYP and Hoboken both only have 8-car platformsOnly Tracks 1 through 4 at NY Penn have the short capacity thereof—the rest of the platforms can support trains of 16-20 cars (maybe longer). NJT shortened the usable length of Hoboken Terminal's platforms since that station no longer has long-distance passenger rail service.
The shortest legnths are zero, at Finderne and ManasquanManasquan Station has a gravel platform. The configuration looks like there was a track that was originally closer to the paved area. As for Finderne, there was more of a station during the CNJ era; of course, for a train station that sees a mere three trains per day, investment is not a priority.
Incidentally, tracks 1, 2 3 and 4 at Newark Penn Station (NJ) have platforms that could potentially service trains with lengths of 30 cars or possibly longer.
Standards vary by lineThey vary by individual station, not by line.
Trenton acts much like LAUPT and Center City Philly with two trains to a platformSo does NY Penn. I have seen NJT and Amtrak trains sharing the same track.