Metrolink train speed outside Union Station

[rubbertoe]

All,
Just recently took my first trip on Metrolink, to the Fair to watch some racing. One of the things that I noticed was that the speed both going out of and coming into Union Station was very slow. I'm talking about the area where all the various tracks separate to go to their various destinations.

Can someone fill me on on just why the trains are so slow there? Is it the condition of the track, the switching area, or maybe the lack of PTC? If PTC were in effect, would that speed things up somewhat?

RubberToe

P.S. I found the trains themselves to be great. Much nicer than the Amtrak trains, likely cause they are much newer.

[Justin Walker]

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip!

Between Union Station and CP Terminal, the track is rated for 20 MPH for trains lined straight through the turnouts and 12 MPH for diverging turnout movements.

Most of the track near Union Station is very complex (with double-slip switches, etc) and includes very sharp curves. Slow speeds are necessary both for safe operation of trains and to prolong the life of the track components, which are very difficult to replace without disrupting service. (According to Metrolink, rails along a straight section of track are considered to be good for 70 years but rails along sharp curves only last 15 years and double-slip turnouts only last 20 years. Higher speeds would cut into the lifespan of these critical components even more.)

I don't think PTC could directly increase train speed through this area (which is restricted by the track geometry), but it may help optimize the flow of train movements through the junction, increasing capacity and decreasing delays to trains waiting for other trains.