What in the World Are you Talking About?
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Rail Trolleys or Trolley Cars
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Single rail cars about the size of a bus. They stop at
almost every street corner and operate within a downtown area and
to nearby attractions. They run on standard or lightweight tracks
and rail beds.
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Light Rail
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With cars somewhat heavier than trolleys, light rail runs on
regular tracks either as single cars or
strung together in trainsets.
This technology choice tends to operate within a city or
metropolitan area.
Stops are a quarter-mile to a mile apart, and speeds
are much greater than trolleys.
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Commuter Rail
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Designed for longer trips than is light rail, commuter rail serves
routes between adjacent population centers. The cars are comfortable,
featuring large seats, tables, restrooms, and even snack bars, and
can be self-powered or pulled by a locomotive.
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Heavy Rail or Superliner Service
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These are the cross-country and long-haul units such as those run
by Amtrak. They include sleeping cars, diners, and lounge/observation
cars.
These definitions are very basic, and many combinations and hybrids exist.
Rails, Inc. feels that there are ideal places in New Mexico for just about
any kind of passenger Rail mode, but we should start with light, trolley, and
commuter services because these systems can be installed relatively quickly,
primarily on existing tracks, with very little disruption to the community or
modification to existing modes of transportation.