train directions

[Anonymous]

Is there a standard or rule which decides the direction on a double track a train uses ?

[Soo2610]

For the most part it is the same as our highways on mainline track. Biggest exception is former C&NW mainline which runs on the English system. Where you have passing track or sidings as in Rochelle anything goes. Have had trains go through there in the same direction on both tracks at the same time both on the UP which is double mainline and the BN&SF which is one main and one passing track.

[thirdrail1]

On double track railroads with standard block signals, where each track was signaled in one direction only, the standard in the US was trains operated on the right hand track, except for the Chicago & North Western, where they used the left hand track. There were numerous exceptions in rapid transit passenger railroading, where trains might opeate left handed then right handed, depending on where the platforms were located. With the advent of centralized traffic control, both tracks could be signaled in both directions and the number of trains operated increased substantially, so substantially that often the line would be single tracked with passing sidings. This happened to the old Illinois Central and Atlantic Coast Line main lines.

[Anonymous]

yes there is in true double track, which according to the general code of operating rules definitions has a defined current of traffic, meaning everything generally runs with the flow, like a 2 lane highway, most railroads do run it just like a 2 lane highway which is right handed, except for the CNW who's true double track was set up for left hand running. There is also multiple main track territory, almost always CTC, where there is no set pattern and trains can run either direction on either track without any special authority.