alatennaub t1_itx0ocp wrote on October 26, 2022 at 10:37 PM

Reply to comment by oxtailplanning in Metro studying Silver Line Express service by walkallover1991

The RER in Paris absolutely has express trains and has density closer to that of DC.

The problem is that the DC Metro can't decide if it wants to be RER or Métro (or S/U-Bahn for those more familiar with Germany).

That said, express trains don't require 4 tracks. If you go to Madrid, most of Cercanías (their RER/S-Bahn system) generally has 2 tracks, but will break into 3 tracks at many stations to enable an express train to jump a local train at certain stations. Their Metro, though, like Paris, is exclusively 2 track.

oxtailplanning t1_itxm2k0 wrote on October 27, 2022 at 1:18 AM

Agreed, Metro is both a commuter rail and an intra-city metro.

It's definitely not as big and far reaching as RER (1/3 the milage and stations), so that comparison is also not perfect. Metro lines aren't covering as much ground as RER, and don't have the density of a real metro system, so I still think the point stands that "express" tracks don't really bring a lot to the table.

To briefly compare to NYC: The entire red line is 27 stations (31 miles), while the A train local in NYC is 40 stops (also 31 miles). The A train express is 18 stops, but it's also a bit shorter, roughly 20 miles. So by that measure, the redline is more or less an "express" train with that density of stations per mile.

edit: conciseness.

alatennaub t1_itxn6ar wrote on October 27, 2022 at 1:26 AM

Honestly I've felt much of the silver extension might be best spun off as its own line in recognition of the dual nature. Run it at 10 or 15 minute intervals, and then try to bring the urban core of the line to 5 or less. If you do that, you could do an airport express train that saves real time too without sacrificing too much.

oxtailplanning t1_itxof3u wrote on October 27, 2022 at 1:36 AM

Agreed. There are going to be a lot of trains running at half empty as they return from the Virginian exurbs back to the urban core.

Perhaps Loundon County will take the approach that Arlington did and develop those stations into some real TOD town centers. Or they will take the fairfax approach with the orange line and make them shitty parking lots surrounded by highways and SFH.

My money is on the later, but hey, a man can dream.