98-444: The Amtrak Hartford Line is a train service run by Amtrak primarily between Springfield, Massachusetts , and New Haven, Connecticut , along Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line . Service on the line takes the form of shuttle trains, Valley Flyer trains, or Northeast Regional through trains. The shuttle trains meet Acela and Northeast Regional services at New Haven Union Station where passengers can typically make
196-545: A General Electric P42DC locomotive pulling an Amfleet coach and a 9600-series ex-Metroliner cab car . Normally the ex-Budd Metroliner leads northbound trains, while the GE Genesis usually leads most southbound trains. Crew bases are at Springfield and New Haven , with diesel locomotive servicing taking place at New Haven. The Valley Flyer trains account for two weekday round trips and one weekend round trip. Southbound Valley Flyer trains require an equipment move from
294-558: A cross-platform transfer between trains. Valley Flyer trains also offer the same connecting service at New Haven, but continue past Springfield north to Greenfield, Massachusetts. Two Northeast Regional round trips operate daily between Washington, D.C. and Springfield, with at least one southbound trip continuing into Virginia . Prior to the addition of the Valley Flyer and the Northeast Regional thru trains,
392-708: A third rail electric system , which is then used to power traction motors that drive the wheels. Electric traction offers a lower cost per mile of train operation but at a higher initial cost, which can only be justified on high traffic lines. Even though the cost per mile of construction is much higher, electric traction is cheaper to operate thanks to lower maintenance and purchase costs for locomotives and equipment. Compared to diesel locomotives, electric locomotives produce no direct emissions and accelerate much faster, making them better suited to passenger service, especially underground. Various other types of train propulsion have been tried, some more successful than others. In
490-612: A train driver controls the train's operation. They may also be installed on unpowered train cars known as cab or control cars , to allow for a train to operate with the locomotive at the rear. To prevent collisions or other accidents, trains are often scheduled, and almost always are under the control of train dispatchers . Historically, trains operated based on timetables ; most trains (including nearly all passenger trains), continue to operate based on fixed schedules, though freight trains may instead run on an as-needed basis, or when enough freight cars are available to justify running
588-680: A cab, entered service with Class 68 locomotives for TransPennine Express , in a push–pull configuration. Córas Iompair Éireann 's first push–pull trains were conversions of their 2600 Class DMUs ( Park Royal body, AEC motors) running with the long withdrawn 201 Class Metropolitan-Vickers Bo-Bo diesels re-engined with EMD 567 prime movers; the cars were subsequently renumbered in the 6100 series (Driving van trailers), 6200 series (trailer with "blind" cab end) and 6300 series (double-gangway intermediate car). In push–pull formation, they operated Dublin Suburban Rail services from 1971 until
686-479: A certain gauge , or distance between rails. Most trains operate on steel tracks with steel wheels, the low friction of which makes them more efficient than other forms of transport. Trains have their roots in wagonways , which used railway tracks and were powered by horses or pulled by cables . Following the invention of the steam locomotive in the United Kingdom in 1802, trains rapidly spread around
784-444: A control car at the other end. The New South Wales XPT long-distance passenger trains used by NSW TrainLink operate in a push–pull operation. In the past V/Line operated P class push–pulls on interurban services to Bacchus Marsh and Wyndham Vale until 2017. South Australian Railways' 2000 class DMUs could be found with at least one motor car and one cab car in a push–pull configuration until their withdrawal in 2016. In
882-463: A driver directly present. Around the world, various track gauges are in use for trains. In most cases, trains can only operate on tracks that are of the same gauge; where different gauge trains meet, it is known as a break of gauge . Standard gauge , defined as 1,435 mm (4 ft 8.5 in) between the rails, is the most common gauge worldwide, though both broad-gauge and narrow-gauge trains are also in use. Trains also need to fit within
980-516: A few holdouts in Europe and South America. China was the last country to fully dieselize, due to its abundant coal reserves; steam locomotives were used to haul mainline trains as late as 2005 in Inner Mongolia . Trains began to face strong competition from automobiles and freight trucks in the 1930s, which greatly intensified following World War II. After the war, air transport also became
1078-564: A fixed schedule and have priority over freight trains . Passenger trains can be divided into short and long distance services. Long distance passenger trains travel over hundreds or even thousands of miles between cities. The longest passenger train service in the world is Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and Vladivostok , a distance of 9,289 kilometers (5,772 mi). In general, long distance trains may take days to complete their journeys, and stop at dozens of stations along their routes. For many rural communities, they are
SECTION 10
#17328016225681176-491: A locomotive) is referred to as a rake . A collection of rail vehicles may also be called a consist. A set of vehicles that are coupled together (such as the Pioneer Zephyr ) is called a trainset. The term rolling stock is used to describe any kind of railway vehicle. Trains are an evolution of wheeled wagons running on stone wagonways , the earliest of which were built by Babylon circa 2,200 BCE. Starting in
1274-404: A long one, may have a locomotive on each end so that there is always one locomotive pushing and one locomotive pulling. In this case, caution must be used to make sure that the two locomotives do not put too much stress on the cars from uneven locomotives. It is usual to arrange matters so that the trailing locomotive supplies less power, i.e. that the locomotive at the front does more pulling than
1372-598: A means of fighting traffic congestion on highways in urban areas. Bogies, also known in North America as trucks, support the wheels and axles of trains. Trucks range from just one axle to as many as four or more. Two-axle trucks are in the widest use worldwide, as they are better able to handle curves and support heavy loads than single axle trucks. Train vehicles are linked to one another by various systems of coupling. In much of Europe, India, and South America, trains primarily use buffers and chain couplers . In
1470-615: A mile of stopping distance. As such, emphasis is on educating motorists to yield to trains at crossings and avoid trespassing. The first trains were rope-hauled, gravity powered or pulled by horses. Steam locomotives work by burning coal, wood or oil fuel in a boiler to heat water into steam, which powers the locomotive's pistons which are in turn connected to the wheels. In the mid 20th century, most steam locomotives were replaced by diesel or electric locomotives, which were cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable. Steam locomotives are still used in heritage railways operated in many countries for
1568-570: A number of converted Metroliner EMUs in service as cab cars on the Keystone Corridor, where they operate in conjunction with ACS-64 electric locomotives. In addition, many regional services, such as the Michigan Services, Downeaster , and Cascades , are operated with Non-Powered Control Units – EMD F40PH locomotives converted to use as a cab control and baggage car, earning itself the nickname 'cabbage cars'. Similarly,
1666-523: A pilot program. By February 2019, the two-year pilot was expected to begin in June 2019; however, by that May it was delayed to later in the year. On August 30, 2019, the Valley Flyer program began. Two round trips are offered on weekdays and one on weekends with southbound trains in the morning and northbound in the evening which complement Amtrak's existing daily service on the Vermonter . Additionally
1764-701: A reverse round trip operates between Springfield and Greenfield on weekends only. The local Hartford Line trains are numbered in the 400 series, usually denoting by the last two digits which Northeast Regional train the Hartford Line train is connecting with. Trains terminating in Springfield carry the Hartford Line name, while trains terminating in Greenfield carry the Valley Flyer designation. Typical consists run in push-pull configuration with
1862-590: A schedule change made to Hartford Line trains, all Amtrak Shuttles and Northeast Regionals started stopping at New Haven's State Street station . (The Vermonter makes only limited stops between New Haven and Springfield.) Amtrak adopted the Hartford Line name for use on the trains it operates on the corridor and retired the Shuttle designation in September 2019. Service was reduced in 2020 during
1960-400: A significant competitor for passenger trains. Large amounts of traffic shifted to these new forms of transportation, resulting in a widespread decline in train service, both freight and passenger. A new development in the 1960s was high-speed rail , which runs on dedicated rights of way and travels at speeds of 240 kilometers per hour (150 mph) or greater. The first high-speed rail service
2058-874: A single rail, while funiculars and rack railways are uniquely designed to traverse steep slopes. Experimental trains such as high speed maglevs , which use magnetic levitation to float above a guideway, are under development in the 2020s and offer higher speeds than even the fastest conventional trains. Trains which use alternative fuels such as natural gas and hydrogen are another 21st-century development. Trains can be sorted into types based on whether they haul passengers or freight (though mixed trains which haul both exist), by their weight ( heavy rail for regular trains, light rail for lighter transit systems), by their speed, by their distance (short haul, long distance , transcontinental ), and by what form of track they use. Conventional trains operate on two rails, but several other types of track systems are also in use around
SECTION 20
#17328016225682156-519: A small proportion of the train systems in use worldwide. Almost all monorail trains use linear induction motors Push%E2%80%93pull train Push–pull is a configuration for locomotive -hauled trains , allowing them to be driven from either end of the train, whether having a locomotive at each end or not. A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control , to
2254-595: A train. Simple repairs may be done while a train is parked on the tracks, but more extensive repairs will be done at a motive power depot . Similar facilities exist for repairing damaged or defective train cars. Maintenance of way trains are used to build and repair railroad tracks and other equipment. Train drivers , also known as engineers, are responsible for operating trains. Conductors are in charge of trains and their cargo, and help passengers on passenger trains. Brakeman , also known as trainmen, were historically responsible for manually applying brakes, though
2352-432: A variety of systems, which may include characteristics of trams, heavier passenger trains, and rapid transit systems. There are a number of specialized trains which differ from the traditional definition of a train as a set of vehicles which travels on two rails. Monorails were developed to meet medium-demand traffic in urban transit, and consist of a train running on a single rail, typically elevated. Monorails represent
2450-631: A vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other end of the train. This second vehicle may be another locomotive, or an unpowered control car . In the UK and some other parts of Europe, the control car is referred to as a driving trailer (or driving van trailer /DVT where there is no passenger accommodation); in the US and Canada, they are called cab cars and in Australia, they are called driving trailers. Historically, push–pull trains with steam power provided
2548-563: A wide variety of cargo, flatcars (also known as flat wagons ) which have flat tops to hold cargo, hopper cars which carry bulk commodities, and tank cars which carry liquids and gases. Examples of more specialized types of train cars include bottle cars which hold molten steel, Schnabel cars which handle very heavy loads, and refrigerator cars which carry perishable goods. Early train cars were small and light, much like early locomotives, but over time they have become larger as locomotives have become more powerful. A passenger train
2646-598: Is used by the InterCity 125 ; its Australian equivalent, the XPT ; Brightline ; Amtrak 's Acela ; SNCF 's TGV ; Taiwan Railways Administration 's E1000 series ; and New Jersey Transit 's longest Northeast Corridor Line multilevel trains. This form of operation has not necessarily been a function of train length; sometimes it was the most convenient way to set up push–pull operation in pre-HEP days without converting coaches to cab control operation. A prime example of this
2744-428: Is used to transport people along a railroad line. These trains may consist of unpowered passenger railroad cars (also known as coaches or carriages) hauled by one or more locomotives, or may be self-propelled; self propelled passenger trains are known as multiple units or railcars . Passenger trains travel between stations or depots , where passengers may board and disembark. In most cases, passenger trains operate on
2842-562: The Capitol Corridor , San Joaquin , and Pacific Surfliner services in California are operated in push–pull configuration using purpose-built cab cars and diesel locomotives. The Muskingum Electric Railroad was a private, coal-hauling railway in central Ohio that ran for more than 20 years with two driverless General Electric E50C electric locomotives that ran backwards from the coal-fired powerplant they served to
2940-733: The British Rail Mark 3 design, with a non-gangwayed driving cab fitted. These were operated with 201 Class locomotives, although in the past 121 Class locomotives were also used. It remains unknown whether these sets were ever hauled as normal coaching stock by non–push–pull fitted locomotives. The sets originally operated in the Dublin outer-suburban area and on the Limerick to Limerick Junction shuttle, but were gradually moved to mainline InterCity routes out of Dublin Heuston after
3038-701: The ConnDOT Hartford Line commuter rail service. On June 9, 2018, three additional weekday Shuttle round trips were added as part of the startup of Hartford Line service. This change also added connections with some Amtrak Acela Express service in New Haven. Hartford Line began on June 16, 2018. Initial Hartford Line service consisted of eight weekday round trips (four New Haven–Hartford and four New Haven–Springfield) and nine weekend round trips (six New Haven–Hartford and three New Haven–Springfield). On September 10, 2018, as part of
Amtrak Hartford Line - Misplaced Pages Continue
3136-566: The Dublin to Belfast route . These are powered by 201 Class locomotives. The other type of push–pull train used in Ireland is the Mark 4 type (not to be confused with the British Rail Mark 4 type). These sets, delivered in 2005–2006, are used exclusively on the Dublin to Cork route, again operated by 201 Class locomotives. Between 1980 and 2009, Iarnród Éireann operated push–pull sets based on
3234-670: The ERTMS train control system in use on the Belgian HSL 4 and the Dutch HSL-Zuid . The Class 28 TRAXX locomotives were later upgraded, and the service went back to "normal" push–pull operation. In this configuration, locomotives hauling a train are located other than at the front or the back. It may include remote control locomotives in the middle of a train. If operational considerations or economics require, trains can be made longer if intermediate locomotives are inserted in
3332-463: The Iron Curtain ) and advances in technology to convert their trains to diesel or electric power. France, Russia, Switzerland, and Japan were leaders in adopting widespread electrified railroads, while other nations focused primarily on dieselization . By 1980, the majority of the world's steam locomotives had been retired, though they continued to be used in parts of Africa and Asia, along with
3430-507: The Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. British engineer George Stephenson ran a steam locomotive named Locomotion No. 1 on this 40-kilometer (25-mile) long line, hauling over 400 passengers at up to 13 kilometers per hour (8 mph). The success of this locomotive, and Stephenson's Rocket in 1829, convinced many of the value in steam locomotives, and within a decade the stock market bubble known as " Railway Mania " started across
3528-876: The Washington, DC and Baltimore area ( MARC and VRE ); Boston ( MBTA ); Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex ( Trinity Railway Express ); the Greater Miami area ( Tri-Rail ); the San Francisco Bay Area ( Caltrain and ACE ); Southern California ( Metrolink and Coaster ); Toronto ( GO Transit ); Montreal ( AMT ); and the Wasatch Front in Utah ( UTA FrontRunner ). Most of these systems (except for SEPTA and Metro-North) continue to utilize some type of bi-level passenger cars for push–pull service, either partially or exclusively. Amtrak has
3626-640: The loading gauge profile to avoid fouling bridges and lineside infrastructure with this being a potential limiting factor on loads such as intermodal container types that may be carried. Train accidents sometimes occur, including derailments (when a train leaves the tracks) and train wrecks (collisions between trains). Accidents were more common in the early days of trains, when railway signal systems, centralized traffic control , and failsafe systems to prevent collisions were primitive or did not yet exist. To prevent accidents, systems such as automatic train stop are used; these are failsafe systems that apply
3724-405: The 1500s, wagonways were introduced to haul material from mines; from the 1790s, stronger iron rails were introduced. Following early developments in the second half of the 1700s, in 1804 a steam locomotive built by British inventor Richard Trevithick powered the first ever steam train. Outside of coal mines, where fuel was readily available, steam locomotives remained untried until the opening of
3822-578: The 1950s. In 1967, the Southern Region , already familiar with operating electric multiple units, applied the technique to its services from London Waterloo to Bournemouth , which were operated by electro-diesel locomotives . In the early 1970s, the Scottish Region used a system with a Class 27 locomotive at each end of a rake of coaches that had been retrofitted with the necessary 'Blue Star' multiple working cables to control
3920-502: The 1970s as an alternative to congested highways and a means to promote development , as has light rail in the 21st century. Freight trains remain important for the transport of bulk commodities such as coal and grain, as well as being a means of reducing road traffic congestion by freight trucks. While conventional trains operate on relatively flat tracks with two rails, a number of specialized trains exist which are significantly different in their mode of operation. Monorails operate on
4018-571: The Blue Star multiple working was later revived after privatisation as a way of allowing locomotive-hauled stock to replace multiple units on certain routes, thus increasing capacity without the complications of having to run around or drag a dead locomotive at the rear. It was used by First North Western and Wessex Trains with Class 31s , and by Abellio Greater Anglia , Arriva Trains Northern , Northern Rail and Arriva Rail North with Class 37s all with Mark 2 carriages. The same system
Amtrak Hartford Line - Misplaced Pages Continue
4116-629: The C&;NW received its first Control Cab equipped Bilevel rail cars for commuter use. The extreme efficiency and success of these trains is why almost all of the commuter rail services in the United States and Canada utilize 100% push–pull operation on their locomotive-hauled trains. Examples include: Chicago ( Metra ); New York City ( Metro-North , the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit ); Philadelphia ( SEPTA );
4214-517: The COVID-19 pandemic; service levels were restored to pre-COVID frequency on April 25, 2022. Most service will be replaced by buses from July 18 to September 9, 2022, during canopy roof replacement at Hartford Union Station and slope stabilization work in Windsor. On June 12, 2018, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that two daily round trips would be extended to Greenfield in 2019 as
4312-611: The US, see High-speed rail in the United States Train A train (from Old French trahiner , from Latin trahere , "to pull, to draw" ) is a series of connected vehicles that run along a railway track and transport people or freight . Trains are typically pulled or pushed by locomotives (often known simply as "engines"), though some are self-propelled, such as multiple units or railcars . Passengers and cargo are carried in railroad cars , also known as wagons or carriages. Trains are designed to
4410-419: The United Kingdom. News of the success of steam locomotives quickly reached the United States, where the first steam railroad opened in 1829. American railroad pioneers soon started manufacturing their own locomotives, designed to handle the sharper curves and rougher track typical of the country's railroads. The other nations of Europe also took note of British railroad developments, and most countries on
4508-790: The United States, the Gatimaan Express in India, and the KTM ETS in Malaysia. A number of types of trains are used to provide rapid transit to urban areas. These are distinct from traditional passenger trains in that they operate more frequently, typically do not share tracks with freight trains, and cover relatively short distances. Many different kinds of systems are in use globally. Rapid transit trains that operate in tunnels below ground are known as subways, undergrounds, or metros. Elevated railways operate on viaducts or bridges above
4606-601: The Valley Flyer is the need for the push pull trains to reverse directions twice at Springfield during the trip due to the station’s location just to the east of the intersection between the Amtrak Springfield Line, MassDOT Connecticut River Line, and CSX Berkshire Subdivision. The New Haven–Springfield corridor is served by all Northeast Regional trains in the 140 series (except trains 145 and 149), as well as trains 125, 136, and 157. These trains run from Springfield to Washington, D.C. or Virginia without
4704-578: The benefits of trains for transport led to a revival in their use and importance. Freight trains are significantly more efficient than trucks, while also emitting far fewer greenhouse gas emissions per ton-mile; passenger trains are also far more energy efficient than other modes of transport. According to the International Energy Agency , "On average, rail requires 12 times less energy and emits 7–11 times less GHGs per passenger-km travelled than private vehicles and airplanes, making it
4802-518: The brakes on a train if it passes a red signal and enters an occupied block , or if any of the train's equipment malfunctions. More advanced safety systems, such as positive train control , can also automatically regulate train speed, preventing derailments from entering curves or switches too fast. Modern trains have a very good safety record overall, comparable with air travel. In the United States between 2000 and 2009, train travel averaged 0.43 deaths per billion passenger miles traveled. While this
4900-694: The cars and apply the brakes when the train went downhill. Hand brakes are still used to park cars and locomotives, but the predominant braking system for trains globally is air brakes, invented in 1869 by George Westinghouse . Air brakes are applied at once to the entire train using air hoses. For safety and communication, trains are equipped with bells , horns , and lights . Steam locomotives typically use steam whistles rather than horns. Other types of lights may be installed on locomotives and cars, such as classification lights , Mars Lights , and ditch lights . Locomotives are in most cases equipped with cabs, also known as driving compartments, where
4998-473: The closure of many rapid transit and tram systems during this time as well. Since the 1970s, governments, environmentalists , and train advocates have promoted increased use of trains due to their greater fuel efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to other modes of land transport. High-speed rail , first built in the 1960s, has proven competitive with cars and planes over short to medium distances. Commuter rail has grown in importance since
SECTION 50
#17328016225685096-465: The continent constructed and opened their first railroads in the 1830s and 1840s, following the first run of a steam train in France in late 1829. In the 1850s, trains continued to expand across Europe, with many influenced by or purchases of American locomotive designs. Other European countries pursued their own distinct designs. Around the world, steam locomotives grew larger and more powerful throughout
5194-444: The corridor do not accept CTrail tickets, and are subject to standard Amtrak fares and reservations policies. Additionally, CTrail tickets are not accepted on Northeast Regional trains on certain days during the holiday season. Amtrak sells tickets for services on the corridor via its standard sales channels, including staffed ticket windows, QuikTrak ticket machines, online, and by phone. For 150 mph (241 km/h) or more in
5292-620: The crew base and equipment layover yard at Springfield Union Station to the Olver Transit Center in Greenfield prior to the Greenfield departure as Amtrak does not have any crew or turnaround facilities in the area. Likewise, equipment and crews on northbound trips must dead head back to Springfield after unloading all Greenfield passengers. For the weekend Valley Flyer, tickets are available for these moves (trains 400 and 499.) On weekdays, these trips are dead head moves and are not open to passengers. Another unique operational aspect of
5390-486: The driver with basic controls at the cab end along with a bell or other signalling code system to communicate with the fireman located in the engine itself in order to pass commands to adjust controls not available in the cab. At low speeds, some push–pull trains are run entirely from the engine with the guard operating bell codes and brakes from the leading cab when the locomotive is pushing the train. Many mountain railways also operate on similar principles in order to keep
5488-616: The electrification of the East Coast Main Line , 31 Mark 4 Driving Van Trailers were built in the late 1980s by Metro-Cammell to operate with Mark 4s coaches at the south end of the InterCity 225 sets. Some of these passed to Transport for Wales Rail in 2021 to work on their Holyhead to Cardiff Premier Service . In the 2000s, some Mark 3s have been modified to operate with Class 67 locomotives with Arriva Trains Wales , Chiltern Railways and Wrexham & Shropshire . In 2019, new Mark 5 carriages, one of which has
5586-498: The engine change, and detached from northbound trains; this eliminated the need for passengers to change trains. The Connecticut Valley Service name was soon dropped, and shuttle trains were named in timetables as sections of their connecting trains. The elimination of the second track on the line beginning in 1990 sharply reduced capacity, limiting frequencies to four daily shuttle round trips plus several through trips. On October 28, 1995, most Northeast Corridor service including
5684-410: The engine. With the engine in the middle of a formation, up to four carriages could be used. To reduce the surprise of a locomotive at the "wrong" end of its train, some were initially fitted with panelling painted in carriage livery. The experiment was successful and the company's remaining railcars were gradually converted for autotrain use and purpose-built units constructed. Other companies followed
5782-459: The event of a derailment, the pushing locomotive does not push a derailed train into an obstacle, worsening the accident. The 1984 Polmont rail accident , in Scotland, occurred when a push–pull train struck a cow on the track. When operating push–pull, the train can be driven from either the locomotive or the alternative cab. If the train is heading in the direction in which the locomotive end of
5880-465: The first decade of the 1900s. Experimentation with diesel and gas power continued, culminating in the German " Flying Hamburger " in 1933, and the influential American EMD FT in 1939. These successful diesel locomotives showed that diesel power was superior to steam, due to lower costs, ease of maintenance, and better reliability. Meanwhile, Italy developed an extensive network of electric trains during
5978-487: The first decades of the 20th century, driven by that country's lack of significant coal reserves. World War II brought great destruction to existing railroads across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Following the war's conclusion in 1945, nations which had suffered extensive damage to their railroad networks took the opportunity provided by Marshall Plan funds (or economic assistance from the USSR and Comecon , for nations behind
SECTION 60
#17328016225686076-700: The first quarter of the 20th century up to 13 motor trains ran on NZR . Until 2015, the Auckland suburban network run by Transdev used rebuilt British Rail Mark 2 carriages in either four, five or six car configurations. Three to five SA class carriages and an SD class driving carriage, fitted with a cab, were coupled to a DC class (4- and 5-car) or DFT/DFB class (6-car) locomotive, leased from KiwiRail . All SA and SD class cars were rebuilt by Hillside Workshops . Auckland also operated former Queensland Rail SX carriages in push–pull mode with two DBR class locomotives. Following electrification of most of
6174-731: The first train powered by electricity in 1879, and went on to pioneer electric trams . Another German inventor, Rudolf Diesel , constructed the first diesel engine in the 1890s, though the potential of his invention to power trains was not realized until decades later. Between 1897 and 1903, tests of experimental electric locomotives on the Royal Prussian Military Railway in Germany demonstrated they were viable, setting speed records in excess of 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph). Early gas powered " doodlebug " self-propelled railcars entered service on railroads in
6272-410: The ground, often on top of city streets. "Metro" may also refer to rapid transit that operates at ground level. In many systems, two or even all three of these types may exist on different portions of a network. Trams, also known in North America as streetcars, typically operate on or parallel to streets in cities, with frequent stops and a high frequency of service. Light rail is a catchall term for
6370-566: The inauguration of the DART EMU service in July 1984. The remaining push–pull trains operated on Dublin-Maynooth commuter services until they were supplanted by Cravens, and later by the modern 2600 Class DMUs . Iarnród Éireann employs push–pull trains of two different kinds. The first of these were built in 1996. These are De Dietrich Ferroviaire –built Enterprise push–pull sets, jointly owned with Northern Ireland Railways for operation on
6468-456: The introduction of railcar sets elsewhere. The entire Mark 3 fleet was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped in 2014. In June 1958, SNCF commenced operating steam trains in push–pull formation out of Gare de l'Est . The first major application of push–pull operation using the modern single diesel configuration was on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, announced in 1958. In 1959,
6566-503: The late 1960s until 1981, with operation in the last five years by Conrail under contract to SEPTA . A rare but possible configuration has a locomotive in the middle of the train with control cars at both ends, as was, for instance, used for a time on the Brussels–Amsterdam Benelux train when there were control cars but no three-voltage (3 kV DC, 1.5 kV DC, 25 kV 50 Hz) locomotives supporting
6664-598: The lead in 1905: the North Eastern and London, Brighton & South Coast Railway using a compressed-air method of control and the Midland Railway , using a cable-and-pulley mechanism. The Great Central deployed the trains in 1906, using cable controls similar to that of the Midland. By the 1920s, most companies had them and they remained in use until they were replaced by diesel multiple units (DMUs) in
6762-480: The leisure and enthusiast market. Diesel locomotives are powered with a diesel engine, which generates electricity to drive traction motors. This is known as a diesel–electric transmission , and is used on most larger diesels. Diesel power replaced steam for a variety of reasons: diesel locomotives were less complex, far more reliable, cheaper, cleaner, easier to maintain, and more fuel efficient. Electric trains receive their current via overhead lines or through
6860-479: The line. North Haven station was opened on October 25, 1980, and other stations were renovated. A new fleet of 12 Budd SPV-2000 diesel railcars allowed an increase to 12 daily round trips under the Connecticut Valley Service name (plus two through trips) at that time. However, service was cut in half in 1981 after ridership failed to increase. On January 12, 1986, Amtrak pulled
6958-416: The locomotive at the rear does pushing. Having an independent locomotive, as opposed to a power car at each end, is also known in the railway world as a top and tail . When this configuration is used in the US, only one locomotive (usually the front locomotive) is allowed to provide head end power (HEP: electricity supply for heating, air conditioning and lighting) to the train. The two-locomotive formation
7056-497: The locomotive lower down than the carriage to prevent any opportunity for a carriage to run away from a train down the gradient and also so that even if the locomotive ever ran away, it would not take the carriage with it. Modern train control systems use sophisticated electronics to allow full remote control of locomotives. Nevertheless, push–pull operation still requires considerable design care to ensure that control system failure does not endanger passengers and also to ensure that in
7154-715: The mid 1900s, gas turbine locomotives were developed and successfully used, though most were retired due to high fuel costs and poor reliability. In the 21st century, alternative fuels for locomotives are under development, due to increasing costs for diesel and a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from trains. Examples include hydrail (trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells) and the use of compressed or liquefied natural gas . Train cars, also known as wagons, are unpowered rail vehicles which are typically pulled by locomotives. Many different types exist, specialized to handle various types of cargo. Some common types include boxcars (also known as covered goods wagons ) that carry
7252-417: The mine where their trains were loaded by affixing bogie trucks, a headlight, and a horn to the last freight car on each train. In 1996, Israel Railways began running GEC Alstom push–pull coaches. Since then, it has also acquired push–pull coaches from Bombardier and Siemens . As of 2016, the bulk of Israel Railways' passenger operations use push–pull coaches. All of them have one locomotive at one end and
7350-502: The most efficient mode of motorised passenger transport. Aside from shipping, freight rail is the most energy-efficient and least carbon-intensive way to transport goods." As such, rail transport is considered an important part of achieving sustainable energy . Intermodal freight trains, carrying double-stack shipping containers , have since the 1970s generated significant business for railroads and gained market share from trucks. Increased use of commuter rail has also been promoted as
7448-560: The need to wye or loop the trainsets at New Haven and Springfield. The NortheastDirect name was dropped in September 2001; Northeast Corridor trains became the Acela Regional (later Regional then Northeast Regional ), while the shuttle trains became unnamed. They remained unnamed until 2019 when they received the Hartford Line and Valley Flyer names. Until Amtrak discontinued all mail-hauling operations in 2005,
7546-603: The need to change trains. The corridor is also served by Amtrak's Vermonter . Fares for travel within the corridor are subsidized by the states of Connecticut and Massachusetts, and are coordinated with the CTrail Hartford Line. Amtrak tickets are discounted to commuter rail-level pricing for trips on Amtrak Hartford Line , Valley Flyer , and Northeast Regional services between Springfield, New Haven, and intermediate stations. CTrail tickets and passes are also accepted on these services. Vermonter trains on
7644-533: The only form of public transportation available. Short distance or regional passenger trains have travel times measured in hours or even minutes, as opposed to days. They run more frequently than long distance trains, and are often used by commuters. Short distance passenger trains specifically designed for commuters are known as commuter rail . High speed trains are designed to be much faster than conventional trains, and typically run on their own separate tracks than other, slower trains. The first high speed train
7742-561: The postal distribution center in Springfield, MA was a significant customer. Up until about the year 2000, Springfield was served by a dedicated mail train which would run overnight up the Inland Route to Springfield. After this train was canceled, mail cars were instead added to the early morning Train 190, to make pickups at large cities along the Northeast Corridor. At New Haven these mail cars would be removed from
7840-580: The rear of Train 190 and added to Shuttle Train 490, sometimes sandwiching the locomotive in the middle of the train. Until August 2015, daily service in each direction on the Springfield Line consisted of four Shuttles , the Vermonter , and one or two Northeast Regional trains. Between August 3, 2015 and December 31, 2017, several round trips on weekdays were replaced by buses to accommodate double track construction for
7938-467: The remote unit; but some problems of delay in actuation were experienced. They were replaced in 1979 by a system in which a Driving Brake Standard Open (DBSO), converted from a Mark 2 , could control the Class 47/7 locomotive via computerised time-division multiplex (TDM) signalling through the train lighting circuits. This had the added benefit that intermediate carriages needed no special equipment, and
8036-724: The rest of the century as technology advanced. Trains first entered service in South America, Africa, and Asia through construction by imperial powers , which starting in the 1840s built railroads to solidify control of their colonies and transport cargo for export. In Japan, which was never colonized, railroads first arrived in the early 1870s. By 1900, railroads were operating on every continent besides uninhabited Antarctica. Even as steam locomotive technology continued to improve, inventors in Germany started work on alternative methods for powering trains. Werner von Siemens built
8134-547: The rest of the world, Janney couplers are the most popular, with a few local variations persisting (such as Wilson couplers in the former Soviet Union). On multiple units all over the world, Scharfenberg couplers are common. Because trains are heavy, powerful brakes are needed to slow or stop trains, and because steel wheels on steel rails have relatively low friction, brakes must be distributed among as many wheels as possible. Early trains could only be stopped by manually applied hand brakes, requiring workers to ride on top of
8232-621: The service was known as the New Haven–Springfield Shuttle , or simply, the Shuttle . The line was renamed in September 2019. Today the service is a component of and shares its name with the Hartford Line commuter rail service operated by the Connecticut Department of Transportation . During fiscal year (FY) 2023, the service carried 442,028 riders, an increase of 36.3% from FY 2022. The increase in ridership
8330-591: The shuttle trains were consolidated under the NortheastDirect brand. Electrification was extended to Boston in 2000, and engine changes were eliminated over the next two years. The cumbersome split/merge procedure was abandoned in favor of dedicated shuttle trains with cross-platform connections to through trains. The shuttle trains began to use Former Metroliner cab cars , which had become available when replaced by new equipment on West Coast routes. This allowed them to operate in push–pull format, eliminating
8428-763: The term is used today to refer to crew members who perform tasks such as operating switches, coupling and uncoupling train cars, and setting handbrakes on equipment. Steam locomotives require a fireman who is responsible for fueling and regulating the locomotive's fire and boiler. On passenger trains, other crew members assist passengers, such as chefs to prepare food, and service attendants to provide food and drinks to passengers. Other passenger train specific duties include passenger car attendants, who assist passengers with boarding and alighting from trains, answer questions, and keep train cars clean, and sleeping car attendants, who perform similar duties in sleeping cars . Some trains can operate with automatic train operation without
8526-604: The train and are remotely controlled from the leading locomotive. The first company to use the system was the Great Western Railway which, in 1904, equipped carriages and 0-6-0 locomotives as an autotrain to run on the Brentford Branch Line (between Southall and Brentford ) as an experimental substitute for steam railcars . Control was by rodding and the mechanism allowed the driving compartment to be either one or two carriages-distant from
8624-407: The train is facing, this is considered 'pulling'. If the train is heading in the opposite direction, this is considered 'pushing' and the motorman or engine driver is located in the alternative cab. This configuration means that the locomotive never needs to be uncoupled from the train and ensures fast turnaround times at a railway station terminus . Alternatively, a push–pull train, especially
8722-461: The unreliable SPVs from the line and replaced them with Amfleet coaches pulled by diesel locomotives. North Haven and Enfield stations were closed on October 25, 1986 due to low ridership. As New Haven was the northern limit of electrification on the Northeast Corridor, New York–Boston trains changed between electric and diesel locomotives at the station. The passenger coaches of Springfield shuttle trains were attached to southbound trains during
8820-636: The world, allowing freight and passengers to move over land faster and cheaper than ever possible before. Rapid transit and trams were first built in the late 1800s to transport large numbers of people in and around cities. Beginning in the 1920s, and accelerating following World War II , diesel and electric locomotives replaced steam as the means of motive power. Following the development of cars , trucks , and extensive networks of highways which offered greater mobility, as well as faster airplanes , trains declined in importance and market share, and many rail lines were abandoned. The spread of buses led to
8918-540: The world, such as monorail . The railway terminology that is used to describe a train varies between countries. The International Union of Railways seeks to provide standardised terminology across languages. The Association of American Railroads provides terminology for North America. The British Rail Safety and Standards Board defines a train as a "light locomotive, self-propelled rail vehicle or road-rail vehicle in rail mode." A collection of passenger or freight carriages connected together (not necessarily with
9016-492: Was also adopted by Network Rail for its track observation trains, although on many trains one locomotive has recently been replaced by a DBSO modified to work with Blue Star. In 1988, 52 Mark 3 Driving Van Trailers were built by British Rail Engineering Limited to allow it to replace life expired electric locomotives on the West Coast Main Line . These operated with Mark 2 and Mark 3 sets. As part of
9114-552: Was found more satisfactory. Such trains became widely used on the intensive passenger service between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street . When the push–pull sets were replaced by multiple units, the DBSOs were transferred to operate on the Great Eastern Main Line between Liverpool Street and Norwich , where they were modified to work with Class 86 electric locomotives. The original system of using
9212-874: Was higher than that of air travel at 0.07 deaths per billion passenger miles, it was also far below the 7.28 deaths per billion passenger miles of car travel. In the 21st century, several derailments of oil trains caused fatalities, most notably the Canadian Lac-Mégantic rail disaster in 2013 which killed 47 people and leveled much of the town of Lac-Mégantic . The vast majority of train-related fatalities, over 90 percent, are due to trespassing on railroad tracks, or collisions with road vehicles at level crossings . Organizations such as Operation Lifesaver have been formed to improve safety awareness at railroad crossings, and governments have also launched ad campaigns. Trains cannot stop quickly when at speed; even an emergency brake application may still require more than
9310-535: Was primarily due to recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism . The service is financially supported by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Department of Transportation . As inherited from Penn Central in 1971, most service on the Springfield Line consisted of unnamed Budd Rail Diesel Car shuttles that connected with Northeast Corridor trains at New Haven, with limited through service to New York City. In 1980, Connecticut invested $ 12 million to improve service on
9408-520: Was the Reading Company which converted its small fleet of streamstyled heavyweight medium-distance coaches for its non-electric commuter operation , with a pair of EMD FP7 diesels bracketing a single five-car train, to supplant the Reading's fleet of RDCs . This train normally operated a weekday peak-hour round trip between Reading Terminal , Philadelphia and Reading, Pennsylvania , from
9506-558: Was the Japanese Shinkansen , which entered service in 1964. In the following decades, high speed rail networks were developed across much of Europe and Eastern Asia, providing fast and reliable service competitive with automobiles and airplanes. The first high-speed train in the Americas was Amtrak 's Acela in the United States, which entered service in 2000. Towards the end of the 20th century, increased awareness of
9604-484: Was the Japanese Shinkansen , which opened in 1964. In the 21st century, services such as the French TGV and German Intercity Express are competitive with airplanes in travel time over short to medium distances. A subset of high speed trains are higher speed trains , which bridge the gap between conventional and high speed trains, and travel at speeds between the two. Examples include the Northeast Regional in
#567432