Tramway ends - are there have any standard？

[Gostav]

Since started using light/tramway systems in UK, l found almost all tramway terminals have their own standard with huge variations - from heavy-rail style buffer to large flower bed to nothing, or a fragile plastic sign behind the track end what is obvious cannot stop anything. Are there any standards or regulations that determine that lets engineers and builders decide whether these tramway ends have extremely strong buffers or just nothing？

 

[edwin_m]

Since started using light/tramway systems in UK, l found almost all tramway terminals have their own standard with huge variations - from heavy-rail style buffer to large flower bed to nothing, or a fragile plastic sign behind the track end what is obvious cannot stop anything. Are there any standards or regulations that determine that lets engineers and builders decide whether these tramway ends have extremely strong buffers or just nothing？

This is probably relevant but I don't have time to review it right now: https://portal.lrssb.org/safety-hub/resources/4

The terminus design of tramway systems include requirements to safely halt a tram that may have overrun the normal limit of operation. Buffer stops are a traditional solution, but they have some disadvantages in a tramway environment.

 

[zwk500]

@Gostav did you note if there was any pattern between street-running on line of sight stopping arrangements and reserved track with signals?

 

[The exile]

Clearly the plastic “stop” sign isn’t going to stop a tram, but then it’s not intended to. I would imagine that a large flower bed is probably one of the safest solutions all round but at slow speeds (ie a misjudged stop rather than some catastrophic failure) even the kerbstone will help.

 

[edwin_m]

Clearly the plastic “stop” sign isn’t going to stop a tram, but then it’s not intended to. I would imagine that a large flower bed is probably one of the safest solutions all round but at slow speeds (ie a misjudged stop rather than some catastrophic failure) even the kerbstone will help.

I think the photo in #1 is Ashton, which I would have run the safety workshop for when it was being designed. After 10+ years I can't recall the details but I believe the patch of lighter coloured concrete behind the plastic sign is a frangible surface. If the tram runs off the end of the rails the wheels will break into this and the ploughing and scraping produces a more gentle retardation than the sudden impact with a solid buffer stop or wall. The flower bed would do something similar.

The other concern with buffer stops in pedestrian areas is the risk of someone being crushed between it and an overrunning tram.

 

[507 001]

Clearly the plastic “stop” sign isn’t going to stop a tram, but then it’s not intended to. I would imagine that a large flower bed is probably one of the safest solutions all round but at slow speeds (ie a misjudged stop rather than some catastrophic failure) even the kerbstone will help.

I think the photo in #1 is Ashton, which I would have run the safety workshop for when it was being designed. After 10+ years I can't recall the details but I believe the patch of lighter coloured concrete behind the plastic sign is a frangible surface. If the tram runs off the end of the rails the wheels will break into this and the ploughing and scraping produces a more gentle retardation than the sudden impact with a solid buffer stop or wall. The flower bed would do something similar.

The other concern with buffer stops in pedestrian areas is the risk of someone being crushed between it and an overrunning tram.

Yes there is a catch pit beyond the stop board.

It has recently had work done to ensure that it’s actually compatible with an M5000, as we tried one out (unintentionally) a year or so ago and it didn’t work. Turns out it had been designed for the weight of a T68, not a substantially lighter M5000…

 

[blueberry11]

I found another source, located at paragraph 4.31, page 28: https://uktram.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Tramway-Principles-Guidance-Final-2.pdf

Where tram track terminates, arrangements should be made for a tram that overruns the normal limit of operations to be brought to a halt or contained safely. The arrangements may include sand drags, soft macadam surfacing over the rails, energy-absorbing architectural features such as large planters, or other appropriate measures. Selection of the arrangements for a location should be on the basis of tram kinetic energy, the risks arising from an overrun, and suitability for the surrounding environment. The means chosen should discourage pedestrians from lingering in an overrun area. Note: The provision of buffer stops could increase risk if used without proper consideration of energy absorption rates.

 

[duffield]

Before the Nottingham tram system was extended over the railway station, the tramway ended with a very drastic dirty great concrete block, which would certainly have stopped the tram from crashing onto the street below but in a rather lethal fashion. As I remember it, it took a lot of serious drilling to break it up. I suppose there must have also been buffers like the ones shown below although I can't visualise them, so in theory any overrun would have been stopped before the concrete block, which was presumably a belt and braces measure in case the buffers were overridden or failed.

The current termini have small metal buffers set on the tracks in low concrete bays. They appear to be made to slide backwards somewhat if hit.
Link below to photo of Toton Lane tram stop buffers:

End of the line

The buffer stops look substantial ! Seen the image ! Read the blog ? railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

www.flickr.com

 

[edwin_m]

The current termini have small metal buffers set on the tracks in low concrete bays. They appear to be made to slide backwards somewhat if hit.
Link below to photo of Toton Lane tram stop buffers:

End of the line

The buffer stops look substantial ! Seen the image ! Read the blog ? railsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk

www.flickr.com

These friction stops are the preferred choice on heavy rail too. They do indeed slide back if struck, and can be fitted with extra grips on the rail further back, so if hit relatively fast they will move far enough to start those moving too, increasing the total retardation. Note how the side of the track faces against a wall and the end is fenced, so there is no desire line for pedestrians to walk through the buffer stop area.