Medium capacity system
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In the rail transport, medium capacity system (MCS) is a non-universal term coined to differentiate from the system of light rail to heavy rail. The concept is similar to Light Metro applied in Europe (see section variation.) A medium capacity system is proposed when an area requires a rapid transit service but the predicted ridership falls between the gap of other 2 rail tiers. Compare with light rail, a medium capacity system must have its own rail tracks and never shares the space with road traffic. Also, the trip among the stations is much longer.
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[edit] Suggested system
The definition of a medium capacity system is that each train can load 10,000~35,000 passengers per hour (pph) (or 6,000~20,000 pph in other region's definition). The train may have shorter configuration than the standard metro system, usually 3 to 6 cars, allowing shorter platform to be built.
Except for the steel wheel, rubber tire is also suggested due to their low running noise, the ability to climb steeper grade and turn tighter curves, allowing more flexible alignment.
[edit] Variation
The term may vary in different country. In Russia, the "Light Metro" (Лёгкое метро) Л1 - Butovskaya Line has been built to serve the residents of outer Moscow. This line connects the passengers with the main routes of Moscow Metro. VAL, the French rubber-tyred fully automated metro system, also applies the term "Light Metro" to define its capacity (up to 30,000 pph).[1] They can also be categorized into the medium capacity system family.
[edit] Disadvantages
Medium capacity systems have a latent weakness in that once the service district increases in population, the increasing transportation demand might create bottlenecks. To avoid this, some railway planners may design their platforms longer than necessary initially so that they will be able to accept the train with more or longer cars. Ma On Shan Rail of Hong Kong has even applied the metro standard (with less car configuration) for a possible joinder with the other existing heavy rail route without reconstructing the current system.
[edit] Railway systems under MCS' definition
- Taiwan -
- Taipei Rapid Transit System:
- Muzha Line (TRTS) (rubber-tyred, 4-car config.)
- Neihu Line (TRTS) (extension of the former line under construction)
- Taipei Rapid Transit System:
- Hong Kong -
- MTR:
- Ma On Shan Line (4-car config.)
- South Island Line (planning, rubber-tyred)[2]
- MTR:
- Russia -
- Moscow Metro: Л1 - Butovskaya Line (6.7k pph, 3~4-car config.)
- Ankara -
- Ankaray light metro: 3-car config.
- Singapore
- Singapore MRT: Circle MRT Line (3 car config.)
