by Jenner
In looking at the master plan for US, south track 2 will be realigned a little to handle a 12 degree curve into the parking area at the concourse. I was looking at their diagrams, and there seems to be a path available to make track 2 curve sooner near Harrison St., right where the old post office "starts" at the south end - assuming no obstructions from pillars of the old post office. The master plan has new track alignments for the removal of the baggage platforms on the south side platforms.
In any case, my thought is that if you can straighten out track 2 a bit more, you can eventually make tracks 4,6,8 straighter, which allows more cars on the trains, thereby increasing capacity. However, by moving the tracks in this manner, the alignment would give track 2 a sharper turn into the concourse, maybe 25 degrees. I don't think this is much of a problem, given that trains are probably going 20mph into the concourse, but I wasn't sure if there are any engineering rules which could prohibit certain angles for rail curves. So the question is, what is the maximum allowed curve on approach into the concourse for the Metra trains?
In any case, my thought is that if you can straighten out track 2 a bit more, you can eventually make tracks 4,6,8 straighter, which allows more cars on the trains, thereby increasing capacity. However, by moving the tracks in this manner, the alignment would give track 2 a sharper turn into the concourse, maybe 25 degrees. I don't think this is much of a problem, given that trains are probably going 20mph into the concourse, but I wasn't sure if there are any engineering rules which could prohibit certain angles for rail curves. So the question is, what is the maximum allowed curve on approach into the concourse for the Metra trains?