What is the speed limit for trains?

Question

What is the speed limit for trains?

Answer 1

that depends on here the train is. A nyc subway does between 20+40 mph while the amtrak acella can go over a 100 in some spot along the line

Answer 2

As this is the UK/Ireland site I assume you mean the speeds in the UK, so in most places these are 125mph - hence the name of the services when they were first introduced - "HST-125" but in recent times with the coming of Virgin's tilting trains it is up to 140 mph where the infrastructure will allow such speeds.

Answer 3

"Speed restrictions,"  are in place and in effect for a myriad of reasons, in addition to some of the quite correct answers above.

Track speed:  the speed which a given piece of railroad roadbed will handle.

Temporary speed restriciton:  usually covered by "track bulletin" issued to train crews when assuming duty.  This is usually found in connection with a stretch of track that whose speed is compromised by needing maintenance, maintenance being performed, etc.  They are usually marked in the field as well, with yellow and green flags.

Grade territory speed restriciton.

Train make up speed restriction, when the train contains a car or cars that are restricted.  For example, on the UP empty bulk-head flat cars are restricted to 40 MPH.

Speed restrictions on certain locomotives.

Speed restrictions due to tonnage of train.  The higher the "tons per operative brake,"  which is simply the weight of the train divided by the number of cars, to reach an "average" of the weight of each car.

Speed restrictions due to "tons per axle of dynamic brake."  Like the above, only the number of equivalent axles of dynamic brakes on the engine is the divisor.

Speed restrictions owing to some commodities carried by the train, usually Hazardous Materials.

It is the responsibility of the engineer and conductor to determine the applicable restrictions to their train after receiving all the necessary paper work when going on duty.  In this regard, it helps if you are a Philadelphia Laywer.

There are usually lowered speeds when passing through towns and cities as well.

Answer 4

I Think it depends on the train,but it does go really fast

Answer 5

that depends on where they are. there are high speed trains that can go over 200 miles an hour.

in some surface crossing that is road crossing places it is very slow. and there is a limit on how long the train can tie up the road for based on its length and the speed it may travel.

once it gets up north where there are fewer crossings the trains become huge miles long and travel fast. i have seen trains that must have been going 60 miles and hour and took over 30 minutes to pass. this is way up north .

there is a difference too in the speed based on what kind of train it is passenger or cargo and what cargo as well

its not as simple as car speed limits.

if you are concerned about the speed a train goes near you i suggest you go to the nearest lighted crossing and there you will find a number for the rail people who could tell you the speed length and all other regulations about that point on the track

Answer 6

Any speed you like, as long as you've got safe track.  In the USA, 49 CFR 213 defines what "safe track" is... want to go faster, get a waiver.  (that means showing the government that what you're doing is safe.)

In the old days, 49 CFR 213 defined six classes of track quality - class 1 (10 mph) to class 6 (110 mph)... and Amtrak got a waiver for 125 mph.

Now they've defined class 7 (125), class 8 (160) and class 9 (200).  Want faster, get a waiver.

In regular practice, most USA freight track is maintained to class 4 (60 freight/80 passenger) or class 5 (80 frt/90 pass)... however, freight railroads usually run slower, because it's cheaper... typically 50-60 freight (70 for fast intermodal) and 80-90 passenger.

Answer 7

Anything from 186mph for the fastest trains in Europe & Japan to 20mph or less for sharp curves and 5mph for moving around yards, depots etc.

Answer 8

In the US, without cab and high speed signaling, 79mph maximum - less in places for track and/or equipment reasons.

With cab signals and a system like ACSES (Advanced Civilian Speed Enforcement System), the limit is dictated by the track. The Acela reaches 150mph on some parts of the NEC regularly, while Regionals reach 125mph (restricted by the standard equipment).