Talk:Light rail in New Jersey

Latest comment: 15 years ago by Apollo1758 in topic Similarities Between Cable Cars and Light Rails

Similarities Between Cable Cars and Light Rails

edit

Are light rails cable cars or are they two different types of transportation systems, because to me they seem a lot alike???? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.80.106.105 (talk) 13:19, 8 February 2009 (UTC)Reply

A light rail is defined as an urban rail transit system using lightweight cars, which has at-grade crossings and operates mainly on its own right of way. A cable car refers to a technology used to propel the train, which consists of continuously moving cables. The San Francisco cable car system cannot be considered a light rail because of its streetrunning, and is instead characterized as a trolley. A cable car would only be a light rail if it had its own right of way for a significant portion of its length with at-grade crossings, and light rails usually get their power from electrification or diesel, which would make such a system impractical. Read Passenger rail terminology#At-grade urban rail transit for more information. --Apollo1758 (talk) 22:31, 27 May 2009 (UTC)Reply