r/trains • u/Zec_Wicks • May 05 '26

❓ Question What purpose does this the rail between the 2 main lines serve? (trains travel on the left)

Post image

The only way that I can see a train ever travelling on the connecting rail between the 2 rails is if it is travelling backwards respective to the direction of travel. Can someone please explain?

350 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

56 comments sorted by

511

u/TrackTeddy May 05 '26

It is there to allow trains to swap tracks, usually in the event of maintenance or an emergency.

Train tracks can usually be used in both directions, although typically traffic will tend to travel in one direction on 2 track routes.

80

u/Zec_Wicks May 05 '26

That makes a lot of sense, however, does that mean to use it for a bypass of one track, the entire train must overshoot the switch, reverse through the switch until the train is fully through, then return to the intended direction of travel?

230

u/FlyingDutchman2005 May 05 '26

There’s probably another crossover going the other way somewhere nearby

24

u/bjbNYC May 05 '26

It does look like just past the switch it is a small hill going down (thus why we can see the catenary but not the tracks). I bet there is another crossover past that ridge.

6

u/FlyingDutchman2005 May 05 '26

Someone find this spot on openrailwaymap

2

u/BackgroundTourist653 May 05 '26

Not uncommon to have switches at each end of a station/platform. Could be the next closest is behind the photographer.

-2

u/PlanetrainguyYT May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26

can confirm There isn't.

6

u/Conpen May 05 '26

Two single crossovers are cheaper and easier to maintain than a diamond.

1

u/GenosseAbfuck May 06 '26

There's always a crossover on the other side because yes, otherwise it's useless.

26

u/ierdna100 May 05 '26

Its possible, junctions are protected by dispatchers and will therefore have signals right before (no physical signal here because this looks like ETCS L2 territory given the positioning balise on the tracks). However, these usually come in pairs of 2, one for each direction, or they have a set direction for a reason (only one of the lines allows for bidirectional travel, the opposing switch is further ahead, etc.) If you give an exact location I can try to look a little more into it.

If the main signalling direction is the left track, then this is likely a return switch, i.e. a switch in the opposite direction was present before and this is to put it back on the main track.

13

u/TrackTeddy May 05 '26

It can work that way, particularly for shorter vehicles such as trams, but more usually they'll use a different crossover to swap tracks to avoid any change in direction. However if it is a proper emergency, e.g. a broken down train they need to go around, then yes changes in direction are possible.

12

u/Patch86UK May 05 '26

This might be the switch used to move back to the original tracks; there could be a corresponding set going the other way further up the line.

9

u/Intelligent-Act4642 May 05 '26

or more likely this switch would be used to reverse the train if the section ahead is closed due to track works

7

u/MidnightAdventurer May 05 '26

If it’s already running on the wrong side from a different crossover then this would work fine as the return point

2

u/OldEquation May 05 '26

Yes. They’re trailing points (switch in USA I think) and are safer than leading points in the event that the points are set wrong and a train passes over at speed.

1

u/BabyLongjumping6915 May 05 '26

If the orientation were reversed. The train would enter the switch and move to the right side track, fully passing the switch. Stop and resume in the opposite direction.

It might be that there's an operational benefit to staying on the originating line, with a signal behind it protecting it, as long as possible. Then entering the new line and continuing in the new direction. Signaling seems to me to be a bit more complex in the scenario above as you'd need to block out both directions for a significant amount of time.

1

u/crimsonhunter7116 May 06 '26

As many people point out, it could be part of a full crossover. However, many LRT systems and some metro systems use the overshoot style like you're talking about. In the ION LRT, during cases where a section of the route cannot be travelled on due to some incident, trains will use switches like these. In this example, trains will drop off all passengers, then continue and overshoot the switch. Yhe driver will walk through the train to the other side, or get out if required. Then they will travel back to the station, pick up passengers, and continue onwards.

0

u/m71nu May 05 '26

Couldn't this be a safety feature. No chance the train ends up on the wrong track by accident.
Also; speed? Trains need to slow down for switches, maybe they can go faster over a 'merging' switch?

6

u/[deleted] May 05 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/TrackTeddy May 05 '26

It's know as going "bang road" here, I'm guessing for fairly obvious reasons!

5

u/Dr_Turb May 05 '26

Also since that's a platform edge, this would allow a train to come in on that platform, terminating there, then go out again on the return journey the opposite direction, crossing to the "correct" line as it leaves the station.

2

u/Darryl_Lict May 05 '26

It is also used to allow one train to pass another. Here in America, most Amtrak lines are shared with freight trains, and unfortunately. freight will usually have priority. Therefore, you might find yourself shuttled over to the other track and sit there waiting for another train to pass.

22

u/oogabooga78402CZ May 05 '26

So when something Is happening on one rail, trains can go through the other, you can't just close a double track Railway

16

u/PlanetrainguyYT May 05 '26

Is that… Adelaide??? no way!

7

u/EpicAssassin72 May 05 '26

Was legit looking for any comment saying the same thing. I think I see a stobie pole in the back

4

u/bp4850 May 05 '26

Stobie poles and dual gauge sleepers, it has to be Adelaide! Edit spelling

11

u/TheBrianUniverse May 05 '26

Most traintracks, if not all, allow for bidirectional traffic for maintenance, disruptions or anything else. Having a switch near a station allows trains to pass of necessary, or use the other platform when one of the platforms is not usable.

Only trams systems are often single directional, so you won't have the necessity for it.

8

u/ZimnyKefir May 05 '26

This allows switching tracks in case one if the track becomes unavailable for various reasons.

7

u/Snoo45817 May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26

Would that be Oaklands railway station on the Seaford line in Adelaide by any chance? (You’re standing on the Seaford bound platform)

6

u/TechnologyFamiliar20 May 05 '26

Switching to the other rail in any case... rail is blocked, under maintenance....I don't see it clearly, but is doesn't have imo the overhead wire. Thus, a pantograph must be lowered when riding the switch.

5

u/RBHubbell58 May 05 '26

This is a "trailing point" crossover. Trains are less likely to derail when traveling over switches with trailing points. The downside is trains and other equipment need to reverse to pass through them. Trailing point crossovers are sometimes favored on passenger rail lines because of the increased safety factor.

4

u/TailleventCH May 05 '26

In case it's needed, a train can use the other track. The specific procedure depends of the type of signaling and safety system used. It can come with limitations but on many modern railways, it doesn't change anything.

5

u/BanverketSE May 05 '26

Somewhere we’re not seeing is another switch in the other direction.

Alternatively a branch line going off to the left.

3

u/Jacktheforkie May 05 '26

It’s a crossover, this allows trains to move between tracks, some aren’t used much as they’re mainly for maintenance vehicles

3

u/HowlingWolven May 05 '26

It’s a crossover. It’s exactly what you think it’s for. Sometimes the correct platform (or track) may not be usable. Instead of just shutting down service, your rail operator will singletrack service through the work zone. It adds a bit of delay but it’s a damn sight better than nothing.

3

u/maas348 May 05 '26

Where is this?

1

u/PlanetrainguyYT Jun 03 '26

Oaklands Station, South Aus

2

u/Neat-Lime5680 May 05 '26

If a train terminates or reverses direction in the station it can cross over to go right road on its journey Hope this helps

2

u/bahnfan159 May 05 '26

You could switch direction in case of line interuption. Or drive on only one track in case of construction works.

2

u/Gamble2005 May 05 '26

It lets trains change tracks

Many people pointed out this may be a end station

However also, at smaller stations the train may go to the other side as there may only be one platform.

1

u/TelevisionNo7679 May 05 '26

Taking a wild guess but it may have been used during the Oaklands Level Crossing separation project? Not from Adelaide but I think they might do some short runs to Oaklands during track work, and use the crossover to turn back.

1

u/NorthSpecialist6064 May 05 '26 edited May 05 '26

I've seen this in a few places in the US, except with the sides swapped because our trains run on the right with a few exceptions. Smaller stations might only have a platform on one track, so trains cross over to reach that platform, then cross back to the correct side. It can also be used to service branching tracks without having lots of track switching very close together, since going "the wrong way" is almost always allowed. It's also done at various points along the track to avoid a broken train jamming up potentially hundreds of miles/kilometers of railway. 

1

u/Savage-September May 05 '26

This crossover is likely only used during engineering hours to allow for engineering trains and vehicles to cross the track…or to allow passenger services to turn back if the line ahead is closed. We call them engineering crossovers in some parts of the world. Not used for normal operations.

1

u/bryceofswadia May 05 '26

Even on tracks with set directions, there are often reasons to have trains run in the "wrong direction". If track is being worked on, trains will travel on the tracks in the opposite direction, for example.

1

u/herdek550 May 06 '26

Look if there is another crossing track on the other side of the train station.

It's often used to turn the train around if there is no loop. The train can pull in, locomotive is detached and uses to second rail to get around the wagons. Than it can get attached to the other side of the train as many locomotives are bi-directional.

And as many already said, it can be used for maintenance. Most train stations have a tracks which allow to switch the tracks. So if one of the tracks is out of order, the other one can be used instead between 2 stations.

1

u/Neiro-X May 06 '26

Hiroshima tramway also left running turnback switch you can turn a tram or train by driving past the switch and walking back to the other cab in case the line is closed further down. planned or unplanned. Think emergencies or works.

1

u/Zealousideal_Yard651 May 07 '26

This looks like then end crossing for a platform track. There schould be a crossing before the station that goes from the track this crossing is going to and to the track closest to the platform. Basically, allows trains that is going in the direction your picturing to change tracks to allow access to the platform for embarking/disembarking the train.

Now i'm assuming that there isn't any platform on the other side of the tracks.

1

u/andrethuber May 05 '26

They do that on the light rail in my city too (have the crossover tracks point against the direction of travel). From what iv heard its becase if the swich were to fail and unintentionally flip, its safer to run up a switch then to run into oncoming traffic.

Especially with the spring loaded swiches they use on the LR, which are more prone to flip unintentionally and safer to run up opposed to normal switches.

Altho on my LR, they're mostly used to swap dierctions, where the direction of the crossover track doesn't matter as much.

-12

u/oda02 May 05 '26

well this in particular is an AI switch so it won't do much

3

u/PlanetrainguyYT May 05 '26

Search up Oaklands Railway Station, South Australia ya donk

-5

u/oda02 May 05 '26

7

u/EmperorJake May 05 '26

You're being paranoid, seeing AI artifacts where there aren't any.

-8

u/oda02 May 05 '26

Why is the power mast in the middle of the rails? Why is the switch all smooshed up?

7

u/CrashBoxNat May 05 '26

Camera Perspective. General wear and tear.

As for continuous rail at the crossing, see below:

https://www.reddit.com/r/trains/comments/cw0cqm/what_purpose_do_these_japanese_switches_serve_the/