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Shared track—A new dawn?

Abstract Shared track is now a possibility in the United Kingdom; the Sunderland Metro will introduce lightweight vehicles on to the Railtrack network. On the other hand, some cities that pioneered the concept are now developing systems where light rapid transit (LRT) and heavy rail are kept separate. This paper examines the technical issues behind these developments. It also examines the scope in the United Kingdom for the wider applications being seen elsewhere in Europe. Innovative approaches are essential if rail systems are to continue to play a role in short distance passenger transport. Shared track could merge the best of heavy rail and tramway practice to create extremely attractive services, taking advantage of new traction options. The main technical challenge is to create vehicles that are both commercially attractive and meet the safety requirements that apply on those parts of the various systems where they might operate.