Uni-directional vehicle

Last updated
Most trams on the Amsterdam tram network are uni-directional vehicles. Notice the distinguishable rear end of the vehicle on the right. GVB, 12G, 822.jpg
Most trams on the Amsterdam tram network are uni-directional vehicles. Notice the distinguishable rear end of the vehicle on the right.

A uni-directional vehicle is a vehicle that is normally designed to operate only in the forward direction. While the vast majority of road vehicles are like this, the term generally refers to a train or tram with a distinguishable front and rear end and a single operating cab at the front end. These vehicles often have the capability to operate in reverse, though such operations are limited to low speeds and short distances, such as shunting.

Uni-directional vehicles commonly have entry and exit doors on only one side of the vehicle (usually the sidewalk side), although some are equipped with doors on both sides, or operate in opposing traffic flow, to facilitate the use of island platforms. Having doors on only one side allows for an increase in seating on board the vehicle, compared to bi-directional vehicles which have doors on both sides.

Because a uni-directional vehicle can only travel in one direction they require special infrastructure for turning around at a terminal station. This is usually a balloon loop on tram systems, which mainline railways tend to use a triangle junction or turntable.

Related Research Articles

A bidirectional text contains two text directionalities, right-to-left (RTL) and left-to-right (LTR). It generally involves text containing different types of alphabets, but may also refer to boustrophedon, which is changing text direction in each row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wye (rail)</span> Y-shaped rail junction

In railroad structures, and rail terminology, a wye or triangular junction is a triangular joining arrangement of three rail lines with a railroad switch at each corner connecting to each incoming line. A turning wye is a specific case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombardier Flexity Swift</span> Series of public transportation vehicles

The Bombardier Flexity Swift is a series of urban and inter-urban tram, light rail and light metro vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. It is part of the Bombardier Flexity family of rail vehicles, and like the others, Flexity Swift vehicles can be customized to suit the needs and requirements of customers including legacy designs from its acquisition of Adtranz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balloon loop</span> Rail loop for turning vehicles

A balloon loop, turning loop, or reversing loop allows a rail vehicle or train to reverse direction without having to shunt or stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and unit freight trains.

The Oslo tram network is the tram system in Oslo, Norway. It consists of six lines with 99 stops and has a daily ridership of 132,000. It is operated by Sporveien Trikken AS, a subsidiary of the municipally-owned Sporveien who maintain the track and 72 tram vehicles on contracts with the public transport authority Ruter. The system operates on standard gauge and uses 750 V DC overhead. Depot, workshops and headquarters are at Grefsen. There is also a depot at Holtet that is home to the technical company InfraPartner, which maintains the track for the tram and metro systems in Oslo, and a small office building for Oslo Sporveier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One-way traffic</span> Traffic that moves in a single direction

One-way traffic is traffic that moves in a single direction. A one-way street is a street either facilitating only one-way traffic, or designed to direct vehicles to move in one direction. One-way streets typically result in higher traffic flow as drivers may avoid encountering oncoming traffic or turns through oncoming traffic. Residents may dislike one-way streets due to the circuitous route required to get to a specific destination, and the potential for higher speeds adversely affecting pedestrian safety. Some studies even challenge the original motivation for one-way streets, in that the circuitous routes negate the claimed higher speeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maschinenfabrik Esslingen GT4</span> Tram type

The GT4 is an articulated tram vehicle built by Maschinenfabrik Esslingen from 1959 until 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Škoda 13 T</span>

The Škoda 13 T is a five carbody section low-floor uni-directional tram, developed by Škoda Transportation for the Brno tram system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Norrköping</span>

The Norrköping tramway network is a system of trams forming a principal part of the public transport services in Norrköping, Sweden. It has been in service since 1904, and is, along with the larger Gothenburg tram network, one of only two city-centre tramways in Sweden that survived the switch to right-hand traffic in 1967, which led to the replacement of most Swedish tramways with buses to reduce the cost of replacing their now-unusable fleets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Škoda 15 T</span> Czech tram

Škoda 15T is a 100% low-floor multiple-unit tram developed by VUKV a.s. and built by Škoda Transportation in Pilsen for the Prague tram network. It was a successor to the Škoda 14 T, featuring articulated bogies and more power to correct for problems found during the operation of the 14 T. The 15T has articulated bogies at either end of the train, and Jacobs bogies between the segments. The tram has two double-doors in each segment to allow fast boarding of passengers, and one extra side door leading to the driver's cabin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road signs in Poland</span> Overview of road signs of Poland


The design of road signs in Poland is regulated by Regulation of the Ministers of Infrastructure and Interior Affairs and Administration on road signs and signals. The Annex 1 to the regulation describes conditions related to usage of the road signs – size, visibility, colors and light reflections, typeface and text, criteria of choosing the type of foil to signs faces, colorful specimens and schematics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Application of railway signals</span> Overview of train traffic management

The application of railway signals on a rail layout is determined by various factors, principally the location of points of potential conflict, as well as the speed and frequency of trains and the movements they require to make.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Škoda 19 T</span>

The Škoda 19 T is a five carbody section low-floor bi-directional tram, developed by Škoda Transportation for Wrocław.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Miskolc</span>

Trams in Miskolc is an important part of the public transport network serving Miskolc, Hungary. In operation since 1897, the network presently has one full tramline and two tramlines that run only on weekends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in The Hague</span> Tram network in the Netherlands

The Hague Tram is a tram network forming part of the public transport system in and around the city of The Hague in South Holland, the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alstom Flexity</span> Public transport vehicles made by Alstom

Alstom Flexity is a family of modern trams, streetcars and light rail vehicles manufactured by Bombardier Transportation, since 2021 a division of French company Alstom. As of 2015, more than 3,500 Flexity vehicles are in operation around the world in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America in 100 cities among 20 countries internationally. Production of the vehicles is done at Bombardier's global production plants and by local manufacturers worldwide through technology transfer agreements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Škoda 30 T</span>

Škoda 30 T is a five carbody low-floor bi-directional tram, developed by Škoda Transportation for the Bratislava tram system based on an earlier model Škoda 26 T designed for Hungarian Miskolc. Just as Škoda 26 T, the tram was designed by Aufeer Design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Škoda 29 T</span>

Škoda 29 T is a five car-body low-floor uni-directional tram, developed by Škoda Transportation for the Bratislava tram system based on a bi-directional Škoda 30 T, which is itself based on an earlier model Škoda 26 T designed for Hungarian Miskolc. Just as Škoda 26 T, the tram was designed by Aufeer Design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bi-directional vehicle</span>

A bi-directional vehicle is a vehicle that can be driven in either direction, forwards or backwards. Usually, the term refers to rail vehicles, such as trains or trams, and some airside transfer buses, that are equipped with driver's cabs at both ends. These vehicles generally have entry and exit doors on either side of the vehicle.

Trams have been used since the 19th century, and since then, there have been various uses and designs for trams around the world. This article covers the many design types, most notably the articulated, double-decker, drop-centre, low-floor, single ended, double-ended, rubber -tired, and tram-train; and the various uses of trams, both historical and current, most notably cargo trams, a dog car, hearse tram, maintenance trams, a mobile library service, a nursery tram, a restaurant tram, a tourist tram, and as mobile offices.