Medium capacity system

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Judging by the capacity, Ma On Shan Line of MTR can also be regarded as a medium capacity system

Elevated platform of Ulitsa Gorchakova Station, Moscow Metro. Its structure shares some similarity to stations of Ma On Shan Line

VAL 256 in 4-car configuration, serving on the Taipei Rapid Transit System's Muzha Line

Train on the Copenhagen Metro

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 seen in European region (see section Variant of term.) 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 is usually running on exclusive right of way. Also the trip between the stations is much longer.

[edit] Suggested system

The definition of a medium capacity system varies due to its non-standardization. Taiwan Ministry of Transportation and Communication gives that each train can load 6,000 ~ 20,000 passengers per hour per direction (p/h/d)^[1]. While Taiwan Department Rapid Transit Systems suggests MCS has capability of 20,000 ~ 30,000 p/h/d^[2].

The train may have a shorter configuration than the standard metro system, usually 3 to 6 cars, allowing shorter platform to be built. Aside from the steel wheel, technology of rubber-tyred metro is recommended due to their low running noise, the ability to climb steeper grade and turn tighter curves, allowing more flexible alignment.

[edit] Variant of term

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^[3].) 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. But it is hard to extend the platforms once in operation, since it must be done without interfering the traffic especially for the underground railway system. 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 Line in 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] Examples

• Ankara -
  • Ankaray light metro: 3-car config, 77 metres length.
• Copenhagen -
  • Copenhagen Metro: 3-car config, 39 metres length.
• Taiwan -
  • Taipei Rapid Transit System:
    • Muzha Line (TRTS) (rubber-tyred, 4-car config.)
    • Neihu Line (TRTS) (extension of the former line under construction)
• Hong Kong -
  • Ma On Shan Line (4-car config.)
  • South Island Line (planning, rubber-tyred)^[4]
• Russia -
  • Moscow Metro: Л1 - Butovskaya Line (6.7k pph, 3~4-car config.)
• Singapore
  • Singapore MRT: Circle MRT Line (3 car config.)^[5]

[edit] References