contact Darryl Fields at 816/474-4240.
MARC Home > Transportation Department > Transportation Studies > Regional Commuter Rail Feasibility Study > FAQ
Regional Commuter Rail Feasibility Study
Frequently Asked Questions
Study completed September 2002
Q. What
is commuter rail?
A. Commuter rail, also known as regional rail, was started by intercity railroads before the Civil War. A commuter rail line typically consists of a locomotive pulling passenger cars, operating at high speeds, with slow acceleration and deceleration. Routes are usually 25 to 50 miles long to stop at a terminal in a central business district, but suburb-to-suburb routes are possible. Service is generally provided for early morning and late evening work commutes.
Commuter Rail Features:
- Operates on traditional train tracks (this study is focusing on existing rail corridor
- Diesel powered engines
- Permanent station
- Flexibility in capacity by the addition or removal of cars
- Ability to efficiently cover greater distances than other forms of mass transit
- Links with other transit modes (e.g., light rail, buses, trams, subways)
Commuter rail between city centers and suburbs often serves two goals: One is to alleviate road congestion into the city center by getting people into trains and the other is to bring urban residents to the abundance of suburban jobs.Commuter rail can then serve both communities and a range of people including the elderly, non-licensed drivers and handicapped persons.
Q. What is heavy rail?
A. Heavy rail is a high-speed passenger rail car (subway or elevated) driven by electric power from an overhead line or a third rail like light rail.Heavy rail, as opposed to light rail, operates on an exclusive right of way.Service is intended primarily for central city travel, but newer systems often extend lines to the suburbs. Stations are generally close together, averaging about a mile apart. Heavy rail is costly and requires large rights of way. Heavy rail is used in areas like the East Coast for inter regional transit.The term "heavy rail" came into existence to distinguish it from light rail.
Q. What is light rail?
A. Light rail is probably the most popular form of rail transit currently being proposed by cities today. Light rail, also called the modern trolley or streetcar, is used in urban areas with significant population centers or corridors.Light rail offers flexibility of location because it can be operated in a street as opposed to the dedicated right of way needed for commuter or heavy rail. Also, light rail usually serves a diverse economic class.