Unusual station track in Germany

[velotrain]

Based on a Google translation of the Japanese text, this was originally a freight line, and when the city wanted to add the tram service there were safety concerns over the wider freight cars and the station platforms.  This was the solution they came up with.

 

http://rtpl.ce.osaka-sandai.ac.jp/column/?p=2130

 

 

 

 

[velotrain]

Here's a longer blog post with info, maps, and many more photos.

 

http://homipage.cocolog-nifty.com/map/2011/12/6-2aaa.html

[Bernard]

Charles - Like your post! Interesting track design....it reminds me of the "new" shaving razor blades in the USA.....5 blades in one cartridge :)

[Densha]

That's Niederkaufungen on the Kassel tram system.

Here some pics: http://www.tram-kassel.de/news/ksn2006/ksn200604/ksn060421/ksn060421-1_t.htm

Googling "Niederkaufungen Bahnhof" will also get you a lot of pictures.

 

The Kassel (Regio)tram system is very interesting anyway because it uses a lot (electrified and non-electrified) heavy rail lines, either converted from heavy rail or together with trains:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Kassel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kassel_RegioTram

http://www.tram-kassel.de/

[velotrain]

Charles - Like your post! Interesting track design....it reminds me of the "new" shaving razor blades in the USA.....5 blades in one cartridge :)

 

Actually, Bernard - there's been a backlash against the ever higher prices due to the "blade wars", and some companies are now marketing single-blade razors.

[velotrain]

That's Niederkaufungen on the Kassel tram system.

Here some pics: http://www.tram-kassel.de/news/ksn2006/ksn200604/ksn060421/ksn060421-1_t.htm

 

 

Densha - if the images I posted are Niederkaufungen, why is the track different from the images at your link?  

Were each group of images taken in different years, with track and platform changes in between?

[Darklighter]

Densha - if the images I posted are Niederkaufungen, why is the track different from the images at your link?  

Were each group of images taken in different years, with track and platform changes in between?

 

The images you posted are Niederkaufungen Mitte (Mitte = center), the images Densha posted are Niederkaufungen Bahnhof (station).

[velotrain]

Gosh - you'd think they would build the Bahnhof in the Mitte of the damn town!

[kvp]

This track arrangement had to be used because the trams are narrow bodied and there was no other simple ways at the time to provide a higher floor boarding solution while maintaining the international freight clearance. (also there was no space to install two dedicated bypass tracks for the trams) A similar solution is often used in the US for various new interurban lines that share trackage with freight trains.

 

An alternative is the moving platform system where the station platforms have movable plates that slide out to the narrower passenger trains. This is also in use at several locations in north america, but the installation and operation costs are higher. A third solution is the one used on mini shinkansen and some european trams and lighter emu-s, where a boarding plate is mounted on the train. The japanese solution uses flip up plates that fold flush with the side of the high speed trains, while the european solution uses slide out plates. The latter is also equipped with an end switch for every plate, so they are self adjusting to any platform distance. Both solutions provide an essentially gap free connection.

[katoftw]

This track arrangement had to be used because the trams are narrow bodied and there was no other simple ways at the time to provide a higher floor boarding solution while maintaining the international freight clearance. (also there was no space to install two dedicated bypass tracks for the trams) A similar solution is often used in the US for various new interurban lines that share trackage with freight trains.

Thanks for the explaination.  I was looking at it thinking it is an expensive solution to move through running trains away from platforms originally.  Now it makes sense.  Still expensive, but it is for a reason.

[westfalen]

That's one tram system I didn't get to last year, I'll have to go back to Germany again. :)

 

In Australia the authorities would just say it couldn't be done and not do it at all.