WHAT IS THROUGH‐RUNNING?
Terminal stations, like Grand Central, are at the end of train lines. At these stations, trains come in from one direction, unload, are cleaned, and board new passenger before reversing towards the direction from which they came.
Through‐running stations are all the stations between two terminals. At these stations, trains come in from one direction, unload and load passengers, and continue on in the same direction.
Terminal stations force all trains to share the limited track access in and out of the station. Because a train enters and leaves on the same set of tracks, trains cross paths as they back in or out, cutting off all traffic to the station as a single train enters or leaves. Through‐running, on the other hand, eliminates this inefficiency by running trains through the station. Terminal services are better suited for stations that do not have high ridership and many transferring passengers.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THROUGH‐RUNNING?
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2. Paris RER
Before the construction of the RER, journeys between opposite sides of the Paris Metropolitan Region (known as the Ile‐de‐France) were not practical. TheRER created new north‐south and east‐west lines through the core of Paris that connected to all parts of the Ile‐de France at the new Chatelet‐ Les Halles station. By linking previously disconnected radial lines into the center of Paris, the new links dramatically cut travel time for hundreds of millions of trips every year. The RER is designed to serve simultaneously as both a relief line for overcrowded metro lines within the Paris core as well as a regional rail service. RUNfollows this same principle.
Until the late 70’s Paris’ commuter rail lines terminated at eight different stations (left). With the RER system, commuter lines use through‐running, with rail yards and terminals at the outskirts. Trains pass through the business district areas, where transfers are available between three commuter lines and six subway lines (right).
The RER allowed Paris to construct the largest purpose‐built Central Business District in Europe – La Defense – around this new connection.
3. London Crossrail
Crossrail, which is expected to open in late 2018, unites a set of four radial branch lines into a new east‐west line through the center of Greater London. The new route will dramatically speed and simplify travel across London and connect to both the London Underground and Overground networks. The opportunity to access far more of the region has sparked intensive development around some of the planned stations, including in Canary Wharf and the London Docklands. Even with a maximum capacity of more than 70,000 passengers per hour, Crossrail is expected to be at capacity from the moment it opens.
Crossrail will connect currently separated parts of Greater London and improve transit through the City’s core. Image Credit: Crossrail Ltd. (Both pics)
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