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<br />. <br /> <br />Light rail operates as a single vehicle or in trains of up to four cars. The LRT train length is <br />a function of the minimum length of a city block so that stopped vehicles do not block cross <br />streets. As compared to buses, light rail can more efficiently transport passengers once demand <br />reaches a specific threshold. LRT is currently operating in many North American cities <br />including: Portland, Baltimore, St. Louis, Buffalo, Dallas, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San <br />Jose. <br /> <br />d. Heavy Rail <br /> <br />Heavy rail is a fully grade separated rail mode with electrically powered vehicles receiving <br />power in most cases from an electrified third rail. The alignment is required to be in exclusive <br />right-of-way and may be elevated, in tunnel or at-grade. The alignment can also be <br />implemented in other rights-of-way such as freeway or railroad. Station spacing can be as close <br />as one-third mile in activity centers, but typically ranges between one to three miles or more <br />in other areas. Trains vary in length between two and ten cars. Heavy rail is typically <br />implemented when very high passenger capacity is required. Cities where heavy rail is <br />currently operating include: San Francisco, Washington DC, Baltimore, and Atlanta. <br /> <br />e. Commuter Rail <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Commuter rail is implemented along existing railroad rights-of-way and typically serves longer <br />distance work trips to central cities from outlying areas. Commuter rail coaches are <br />comparable in size to those used for long-distance AMTRAK service, and may be single or bi- <br />level. Trains consist of either unpowered cars propelled by a diesel or electric locomotive, or <br />individually powered electric or diesel rail cars, respectively referred to as electric multiple <br />units, EMUs, or diesel multiple units, DMUs. Electrically propelled vehicles may receive <br />power from overhead wire or a third rail. Typical station spacing ranges between one and five <br />miles. Trains vary from four to eight cars. Cities where commuter rail is currently operating <br />include: Dallas, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Diego. <br /> <br />Diesel Multiple Unit <br /> <br />Diesel Multiple Unit operation is a subtype of commuter rail, consisting of one or two vehicles <br />semi-permanently coupled. DMU service can operate on existing tracks. DMU service is often <br />more appropriate for corridors with less freight railroad usage, lower passenger demand or <br />constrained station sites. Trains are typically one or two cars. There are currently no DMU's <br />operating in joint use with railroad freight traffic in the United States because of safety <br />constraints associated with mixing the smaller and lighter weight DMU's with heavy <br />locomotives. . <br /> <br />f. Monorail <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Monorail refers to an electrically powered vehicle which operates along a single guideway. The <br />guideway supports the vehicle and contains the power source. A monorail must be grade <br />separated from other traffic. The majority of monorail installations have been elevated; <br /> <br />Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study <br />Conceptual Definition of Alternatives <br />February 1999 <br /> <br />III-5 <br />