SHARED TRACKS MAKE LIGHT RAIL S-BAHN SIMPLE FOR KARLSRUHE - TRAMS TO RUN ALONGSIDE DB TRAINS IN GERMAN CITY'S LATEST INNOVATION

This article describes the modern and efficient light rail system in the city and suburbs of Karlsruhe in South West Germany, which includes some sections of Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB) track used by both light rail vehicles and heavy trains. Six lines converge on a pedestrian street in the city centre, and one long-distance route, runs out to the suburbs to north and south. By the end of the 1970s, Karlsruhe had a well-maintained but not exceptional tram system for a city of its size. During the 1980s, this system was transformed as a result of innovative thinking. The new features introduced included the following: (1) shared use of village streets with cars, bicycles and pedestrians; (2) strongly emphasising aspects of rail travel beneficial to the environment; (3) special travel cards for one month's and one day's unlimited travel on the system; (4) special fare concessions for families travelling together; (5) a signal preference system at traffic lights; (6) shared use of a DB freight line for part of the route. Trams are perceived in Karlsruhe as a social benefit, bringing public transport near to the communities that they serve and helping to keep cars off streets. Further extensions to the network are being planned which will use additional lines shared with DB. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/24067173
• Corporate Authors:

  Landor Publishing Limited

  Quadrant House 250 Kennington Lane
  London SE11 5RD,   England 
• Publication Date: 1991-1-2

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 26-29
• Serial:
  • Urban Transport International
  • Publisher: Groupe Actis
  • ISSN: 1268-2241
  • Serial URL: http://urban.transport.free.fr

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Light rail transit; Railroad tracks; Trolley cars
• Uncontrolled Terms: Shared tracks
• Geographic Terms: Germany
• ITRD Terms: 8125: Germany; 9108: Improvement; 744: Public transport; 1191: Underground railway; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00620081
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1996 12:00AM