Re: Sydney Light Rail

["Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au>]

"B." <gunzel412@dingoblue.gunzel.net.au> wrote in message
39e0756b$0$11621$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:39e0756b$0$11621$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
>
> > What a lot of rot. The Metro Light Rail is signalled (not in a
> > sense of what is generally accepted as railway signalling, but
> > it is signalled all the same).
>
> What a lot of rot.  The Metro Light Rail is extremely well
> signaled, as far as 'tramways' go.

Which is what I said. It is not signalled in a railway sense of the word
(i.e. red, yellow, green) but is still signalled.

> Indeed it uses basically good
> railway signalling systems, the only difference is the aspects are
> slightly different.

Which is basically what I said, isn't it?

> Do the trams actually have to stop if there
> is a white/red aspect, or do they just reduce to running on sight?

White/red is drive on sight and be prepared to stop, isn't it?

> >> So the tram would become a train and therefore require radio
> >> equipment amongst other safety gear.
>
> > Why would it need a radio and other safety gear?
>
> The trams already have radios, and since they have ATP they are
> already arguably safer than Cityrail, IMHO.

Doesn't answer the question - Sam said they would HAVE to have it, without
giving any reason why they would have to have it. I presume he is either
talking about the railway radio network.

> >> and the drivers would need to be trained in the safeworking
> >> system used.
>
> > They would need to be trained in any safeworking system used,
> > including that currently used on the MLR. How is it so
> > different to what is the current situation?
>
> >> The trams would need to be capable of operating track circuits
> >> reliably. It would probably be possible and safe, but perhaps
> >> not viable.
>
> > Mindless rubbish. It happens all the time in Europe, and the
> > last time I looked at several systems, the safeworking was set
> > up for the trams, with the goods trains having to operate to
> > their safeworking system, i.e. being driven at a speed slow
> > enough to be able to respond to street traffic and pedestrians
> > crossing the line.
>
> The MLR already operates TI21 jointless tracks, apparently
> reliably.  On the European shared running systems (where the trams
> run on railways) would the detection be based on axle counters?
> The case under discussion here would involve trams sharing onto a
> railway easement?  Simple - train the drivers to read Double Light
> signals, construct a junction, and bingo.  The only issue is
> whether you allow Freight to run during tramway operating hours,
> i.e. do you run possibly wider freight vehicles through almost
> rail level tram stops, and at what speed.

And that wouldn't be too hard to sort out.

> > It works over there, and there is no reason why the two modes
> > cannot co-exist here, your mindless hyperventilating
> > notwithstanding.
>
> I don't think your allowed to use big words like that Dave.

Why not?

Dave