Light rail transportation is a domain in the transport domain involving public transport which uses rolling stock (tramcars) and operates at a higher capacity. They also primarily work along the exclusive right-of-way and use either single or multiple tram cars. Light rail network has similar characteristics to rapid transit. Light rail is more preferred since there has lower capital cost, and they are more reliable than the heavy rail systems.
Implementation of tram car and streetcar were initially used in the U.K in 1950’s and was decommissioned due to the increased popularity of the automobile. The reintroduction of the light rails was facilitated by reducing traffic. The concept behind it was that the tram cars had a large capacity of carrying more passengers, they had more doors allowing easy boarding and of loading as well as full utilization of space, and they are faster and quieter in operation. The term Light rail transit was first used in North America in 1972 representing the concept of rail transportation. In 1978 the light rail system began operations in North America. From there other countries started to adapt this method including Canada, Britain, U.S, and U.K (Thompson, 2003).
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There are various types of light rail transit which in lower capacity, higher capacity, and mixed systems. Lower capacity rails are very similar to streetcar and metro car systems. Their technologies overlap, and most of the cars can be used for either system. Therefore, they are classified as light rail. For this type of rail, their tracks are highly visible, and an effort is put to keep away traffic by use of unique signals, complete separation, and level crossing. Higher capacity is another type of light rail transit (Thompson, 2003). They are contrasted with metros. In Europe, rail transit system with low frequency or short trains are considered light rail. Most of the systems mix the characteristics. Due to engineering designs light rail has sections that can be described as a tramway, rapid transit, and light metro and narrow sense. This is because some of the rails run along a street, underground and along elevated viaduct (Hanson, 2004).
Speed and the frequency to stop can be used to classify the types of light rail system. Light railway refers to rails with low speeds or that have a lot of stops in short distance intervals. The average speed of light rails between 20 and 40mph. There is an exception since in North America their Light rail transit move at 66mph (Thompson, 2003). Most of the light rail transit have the characteristics of having a combination of on and off-road sections. In other countries such as Europe only off the road, parts are considered light rail. In Europe, again trams running on mixed right-of-way are not considered as light rail but as streetcars and trams (Hanson, 2004).
Using light rail transport is considered to be safer than the use of the automobile. Statistically, there are fewer accidents in the use of light rail than using the automobile. On safety matters, they are therefore more preferable. The main reason for the implementation of light rail transit is to bring down traffic in most of the big cities. Light transportation help reduces traffic since they are large compared to cars and they have many boarding doors reducing the time for boarding as well as getting off and make maximum utilization of space (Hanson, 2004). The light rail construction and operation cost is less compared to other forms of transportation. The light rail cars are more expensive but have a longer useful life than buses which makes their life cycle costs to be lower. For the users it is also cheaper, available and reliable compared to other forms of transportation such as buses this is because it has a lower labor cost per passenger mile (Thompson, 2003). Since the light rail do not encounter traffic they have a higher average speed.
References
Thompson, G, L. (2003). "Defining an Alternative Future: The Birth of the Light Rail Movement in North America". Transportation Research Circular. Transportation Research Board (E-C058).
Hanson, S. Giuliano, G. (2004). The geography of urban transportation. Guilford Press. ISBN 1-59385 055-7.
