What would be the cost difference of laying a light rail track to a heavy rail?

Question

A flat surface for a mile. Approximate.

Answer 1

There would be some differences in light vs. heavy rail that most people may not think about.

The line could be used to ship goods during "Off Peak" passenger times.  The height requirements for small light rail cars will be less than double stack container trains.

Answer 2

None

light rail mostly means it is not connected to the national rail network and falls under a different set of guidelines.

The cost of making a mile of roadbed is not going to be substantially any different. Depending on how much it costs to acquire the property itself the cost is going to be a bit over a million dollars a mile, maybe a million and a quarter.

Most light rail systems use the same equipment as conventional railroads.

Light rail is kind of a high fashion buzzword that municipal planners love to throw out so they sound like they know what they are doing.

Answer 3

Richard, the difference is primarily the difference in the cost of the rail.

Regards,

Dan