Which is better for a city of more than 500,000 but less than 1 million?

Question

A light rail tram or a heavy rail metro?

Answer 1

Heavy metro.

A populace of 500,000 is sure to grow, which means it will outstrip a light rail system.

Answer 2

It depends on the transit budget, the culture of the city, and the use of transportation on buses in the city. I would say for a place like the U.S. to build a light rail system with one or two lines. But if it were in Europe, I would definitely go with a Metro system and maybe two light rail lines. The bigger, the faster, and the most efficient is the best to go with. Even though the U.S. has little support for rail a metro line is always the best.

Answer 3

I would say, looking at the European model, there are many medium-sized towns and cities in eg.. Germany which have tram systems. Most are standard gauge but some are narrow gauge.

One example is Duisburg (pop. around 900,000) which has a tram network covering the city, also interurban trams use the same tracks connecting with neighbouring cities which have their own tram networks. The Duisburg tram system is standard gauge and connects with Mülheim (pop. around 500,000) to the east which has a metre gauge tram system.

Answer 4

Tough call, all a light rail system means is that it doesnt connect to the nationwide rail system so it doesnt fall under the regulations of the FRA.

It can be narrow or standard guage and as heavy duty as necessary.

I doubt seriously if there is any set answer, population is only part of the equation, what is the expected growth? How many people commute each day from the suburbs to the city, what distances are avearge commutes?

Are you looking at merely easing congestion in the inner city area or providing transportation from outlying areas?

Will the proposed system be connected to the nationwide rail system (amtrak)?

A very comprehensive (and sadly expensive) study will be needed before the puzzle peices start to fall into place.

Answer 5

I would say light rail assuming that the city of 500,000 is a city by itself with no other cities in the immediate area. Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York are big cities, but they have adjacent cities which makes up a large metropolitan city which then I would have a heavy rail.