Rail rapid transir advances

Abstract

This chapter identifies the appropriate role for “metros” in developing cities. The term “metros” is used in this chapter as shorthand for any rail system that carries a mass ridership rapidly in urban areas and this includes heavy rail transit systems, light rail transit (LRT) systems that are mainly aggregated, and suburban rail systems. The chapter shows how metros achieve their strategic impacts as a result of their operating speed and capacity that in turn determine the accessibility benefits that they offer. Rail projects that are fully segregated achieve notably higher impacts than those that are not. Metros are seen to achieve a step change in both speed and capacity. The performance characteristics of metros and busway or bus rapid transit (BRT) systems against which they are often compared as follows: (1) fully segregated metro systems: typically achieve average end-to-end operating speed of 30-40 kph, and have capacities of 35,000 to 60,000+ passengers per hour per direction (pphpd); (2) partly segregated LRT systems: achieve lower average speeds of about 20 kph and lower capacities of about 10,000 pphpd; and (3) busways or BRT systems: typically achieve average operating speeds of 17-20 kpd, and have capacities of 10,000 to 20,000 pphpd. The chapter shows how urban public transport is typically organized as an integrated system or with competing operators. Metros thus operate sometimes as part of an integrated urban or metropolitan public transport system, as in Singapore and London, or in competition with existing buses and paratransit as in Bangkok and Manila. Busways and BRT systems may compete for considerations as rapid public transit options or may be considered as feeders to metro systems.