Commuter rail systems

Commuter rail can be seen as a hybrid between subway systems and interurban train systems. Like subways, commuter rail systems serve the needs of a single city or metropolitan area. Commuter trains use a network of tracks that provide service between a... 

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) http //www.apta.com/ (accessed September 13, 2010). An advocacy gronp for bus, rapid transit, and commuter rail systems, APTA sponsors conferences on bns and rail transit and applications of intelligent transportation systems. It pnblishes proceedings, reports, and statistics on fares and fare collection, vehicles, alternative fuels, safety, sustainability, funding sonrces, and policy. Formerly known as the American Public Transit Association and the American Transit Association. 

The Marmaray Project represents one of the major transportation infrastructure projects in the world at present. When introducing major infrastructure projects such as the Marmaray Project, it is important to realize that it will influence not only the daily traffic pattern of Istanbul, but also the development of the city and the region. It further provides an upgrading of the commuter rail system in Istanbul, connecting Halkali on the European side with Gebze on the Asian side with an uninterrupted, modern, high capacity commuter rail system (Fig. 41.7). 

Transportation systems can be categorized into modes defined by the type of inliastructure needed to run them. Buses, for example, need a fleet of vehicles and a network of roads and streets. Systems that need rails include trains, subways, light rail and monorail (considered separate categories from standard train systems such as commuter rail), and streetcars and trams. Ferries are used in many cities with extensive waterfront areas. Airports also fall within the domain of transportation engineering. While most transportation systems are designed with the needs of a geographically focused population in mind, airports are unique in that they serve passengers from all over the country—or the world. 

The Commuter Rail Infrastructure and Systems Contract (CRI). The renovation and upgrading of Gebze-Haydarpa a, Sirkeci-Halkali commuter rails and construction of structures and mechanical systems are other phases of the project. The improvement of existing commuter rails and electro-mechanical systems construction (RI)- comprise the second phase of the Project. These projects were contracted to AMD Rail (Alstom-Marubeni-Dogu ) Group on 28 March 2007. Work started 21 June that year. 

At speeds of about 120 miles per hour and greater, there is significant wear on both wheels and rails. Federal Railroad Administration standards for conventional freight trains and commuter trains allow relatively large discrepancies between the level of one rail and another—1.25 inches for 80 mph operations. However, the FRA standard drops to 0.5 inches [sic] for 120 mph operations. By comparison, the French TGV standard is 0.16 for the 170 mph portions of the system. Satisfying the standards for high-speed service is not impossible, but it is very expensive. 

London Bombings (7 July 2005) Public Transit (Road and Rail) The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of coordinated terrorist bomb blasts that hit London s public transport system during the morning rush hour. Three bombs exploded on three London underground trains while a fourth bomb exploded on a bus. The bombings killed 52 commuters and the four suicide bombers, injured 700, and oaused a severe daylong disruption of the city s transport and mobile telecommunications infrastruoture. 

Heavy RaU. Transportation networks known as heavy rail include subway systems, commuter or regional rail lines, and intercity train systems such as Amtrak in the United States. In densely populated areas, particularly in the stretch of major cities known... 

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