A tramway is an engineering structure with such structural elements as: base (or lower structure), upper structure, drainage structures, subgrade, and road surface.
Building codes
Subway preparation is the initial stage of the construction of tram tracks. If the canvas is placed on the roadway, dig a longitudinal pit, if the paths are on a separate canvas, then create a mound or recesses.
Next, rail supports and ballast are stacked. They form the basis of the tramway. These supports are longitudinal beds, sleepers or frame structures. For ballast, gravel, sand or fine gravel is chosen.
The upper structure of the track is rails, special working parts (crosses, turnouts, intersections, etc.), fasteners that are designed to connect rails and rail supports (lining, linings, bolts, crutches, couplers, screws, etc.) as well as electrical connections.
Drainage facilities are laid to remove groundwater and rainwater.
The road surface is laid outside the rails and between, if the tram track is located on the carriageway of the street. The coating can be made of pavers, asphalt concrete, cobblestones or reinforced concrete slabs.
The structural dimensions of the rail track
The main parameter is the track width. This is the gap between the working faces of the rail heads, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the track. On a straight gauge, this size is assumed to be 1,524 mm (Russian standard for railway gauge). In areas with curvature or bends, the track width may be increased in accordance with the turning radius or curve.
Sections with a double-track direction of movement are stacked taking into account the width of the cars (2,600 mm) and the necessary clearance between them (600 mm). Therefore, in the absence of supports for contact wires at the inter-blast, its generally accepted minimum width in the straight section is assumed to be 3,200 mm, normal - 3,500 mm. If there are supports, the width of the inter-blast should be at least 3,550 mm.
When laying the tram track, the actual width of the inter-blast is marked between the axes of the parallel tracks.
Accommodation and appointment
According to the SDA, tram tracks are placed in the presence of an alley or boulevard along the edges of the carriageway, in the absence - in the center. On embankments, major highways or streets with one-way traffic, paths are laid along one side of the roadway.
When arranging paths, preference is given to a web isolated from the rest of the road traffic . This is not always real: there is not enough free land, especially in big cities.
By destination, the tram tracks are divided into:
- official (laid in the territory of the depot and between operational routes and depot);
- temporary (mounted for a short period of repair work);
- operational (main tram tracks).
An operational tramway is usually laid in two directions. Single track placed in places where it is impossible to pave the way in two directions.
Every driver should know that tram tracks are not considered a lane of the road, but are a separate element of the road. Therefore, even the rails along the way with a car lane are not intended for the movement of trackless vehicles along them. Departure to the tram track in special cases is regulated by the DD Rules.
Permitted maneuvers on tram tracks
A fully authorized maneuver on rails for electric vehicles is an intersection.
Traffic rules allow traffic on tram rails only if:
- they are located to the left of the driver;
- they are at the same height as the roadway;
- both the tram and the car move in the same direction.
Allowed the movement of vehicles on rails of the associated direction, if all lanes of the roadway are occupied. But at the same time, conditions must be created for the unimpeded passage of the tram. In addition, access to tram tracks may be prohibited by appropriate road signs.
Prohibited vehicle actions on tram tracks
The penalty will be issued for the following actions of the driver:
- travel on rails located to the right of the car;
- riding on a tram track below or above the carriageway;
- departure to oncoming tram tracks (for this they may deprive the right to drive a car);
- U-turn on the rails through the right side.
In addition, sanctions will be imposed if ignoring prohibitory traffic signs and / or markings on the roadway. These include signs 3.19; 4.1.1; 4.1.2; 4.1.4, as well as markup 1.1; 1.2.1 and 1.3.
U-turns and turns
As is clear from the rules of the DD, vehicles are allowed to directly travel along the tracks for electric vehicles; a U-turn through the left side and a turn are also allowed (without interfering with electric vehicles), including crossing a street through an intersection.
Left turn is permitted by DD Rules if:
- there are no marking lines on the roadway;
- the tram track lies to the right of the car and at the same height as the road.
Starting the maneuver, you need to make sure that there are no electric vehicles at the moment. Turning is done only at right angles. Failure to comply with this condition is equivalent to leaving for the oncoming lane, which entails a fine of 5,000 rubles. Sometimes this results in turning off the turn signal even before the completion of this maneuver.
A U-turn can be done like this:
- make sure that the tram tracks are in the direction along with the car and are located no higher / lower than the roadway, and also that there are no signs and road markings prohibiting this maneuver;
- give way (if necessary) to electric transport;
- lane with tram tracks along the way;
- turn on the turn signal, make a turn;
- turn off the turn signal.
If a U-turn on tram tracks is allowed (under the conditions described above), then overtaking is prohibited. For it is impossible without going to the opposite lane.
The right turn through the tram tracks The rules are regulated as follows. To perform this maneuver, the vehicle must occupy the extreme right position. It is strictly forbidden to start a right turn from the paths for electric vehicles.
Possible reversal errors
One of the main ones - the maneuver begins with the roadway, and not with the tram track. Responsibility in this case is not provided. The conversation is only about creating an emergency. If it is not right to start a U-turn, there is a high probability of colliding with a vehicle moving along paths straight.
The second common mistake is a U-turn from the oncoming trams. In this case, the driver commits a gross violation stipulated by the DD Rules, clause 9.6, that is, makes a trip and travels along the tram tracks of the oncoming direction.
Often the vehicle is not across the oncoming tram track. In this case, the traffic police inspector qualifies this maneuver as a trip to the oncoming lane of the tram traffic. And this, of course, faces a fine.
Well, there is still a mistake when turning through the left side, on which vehicles are parked. In a similar situation, it is advisable to start the maneuver when the cars (turning and parked) are on the same line. Such a start of a turn in conditions of limited space minimizes the possibility of a collision.
Intersection Intersection
DD rules allow this only in cases when:
- electric transport (located to the right of the driver) and the car move along the way, both will make a left turn;
- a tram (located on the right side of the car) and vehicles move in the same direction to the intersection, but the car continues to move straight;
- the electric vehicle to the right of the driver will make a left turn, while the trackless vehicle continues to move in a straight line.
If the entrance to the intersection is determined by signs from the clauses of Rules DD 5.10; 5.15.1 and 5.15.2 regulating traffic in lanes or indicating a road with reverse traffic, then sanctions for leaving the electric transport will be mandatory, because it is prohibited. Turn to the right should be made without crossing the tram rails.
How can I turn if the direction of the road and tram? Maneuver is allowed if the paths are at the same level. In such situations, a left turn is taken from the tram tracks, as is a turn. Other movement may be indicated by signs 5.15.1; 5.15.2 or road markings 1.18.
If there is a traffic controller or traffic light
In this case, with an enable signal or an inspector’s gesture for both modes of transport, the tram has an unconditional advantage, regardless of the direction of its movement. However, when the green arrow is turned on in the additional traffic light section, together with the traffic light prohibiting signal, electric vehicles must give way to cars moving in other directions.
How much do you have to pay
The amount of penalty for offenses on the tram tracks depends on the seriousness of the offense. The most “expensive” of them is driving a vehicle along oncoming rails. For this, a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of a driver’s license for up to six months is provided. But if a video camera recorded the wrongdoing, then the driver will get off only with a fine.
Punishment threatens for crossing a continuous strip separating the tram track from the roadway. The traffic police inspector can simply warn, and can write a fine of 500 rubles.
The same amount will be collected from a car enthusiast moving along the tram rails of a passing direction, but interfering with the movement of electric vehicles.
The stop of the vehicle on the tram tracks of traffic rules is considered a very gross violation. Today it "costs" 1,500 rubles. In the capital and St. Petersburg for this violation will have to pay 3,000 rubles.
Drivers who allow themselves to go around an obstacle along the lines for oncoming electric vehicles must be prepared to pay this liberty in the amount of one and a half thousand rubles. Moreover, neither traffic congestion nor traffic jam are an excuse for misconduct: they are not recognized as an obstacle. If the motorist is repeatedly stopped for the same offense, the Administrative Code allows him to be deprived of his driver’s license for a period of 12 months. And if the video camera recorded this misconduct, then the fine increases to 5,000 rubles. The same amount of the penalty (and, perhaps, the deprivation of the certificate) awaits the driver who has traveled around an obstacle that could be circumvented without stopping on the way of electric transport.
Sometimes the driver has good reasons forcing him to the described violations. Proving their respect, however, will have to be in court.
Traffic accidents
Almost always, a motorist is recognized as their culprit. In very rare cases, the fault is assigned to the tram driver. For example, he left the depot without looking around, or started moving towards a red (or yellow) traffic signal.
The first thing that needs to be done to the driver who provoked the accident is to clear the way for electric transport. Because how to pay for the lost profits of the transport company is an expensive pleasure. Most often, the court makes concessions to the plaintiff and assigns amounts in excess of 10,000 rubles. Therefore, auto-lawyers advise under any circumstances an accident to clear the tram tracks as soon as possible.
If electric transport is not involved in the incident, it is necessary to quickly take the witness data, draw a diagram of the accident, preferably with reference to some stationary object, take some photos from different angles and follow the nearest traffic police department. If the situation allows, then you can not go to the inspection, modern rules and regulations allow this.
Emergency situations
Riding along tram tracks, including oncoming directions, is allowed during repairs on one / several lanes of the roadway. In this case, traffic police inspectors organize a detour that can pass along oncoming tram tracks.
Also, traffic police officers have the right to offer such a detour due to a major traffic accident. But in these and similar situations, they must regulate the movement of the vehicle.
Tram tracks on Enthusiasts highway
In Moscow, the reconstruction of the canvas on sh. Enthusiasts. Now here are wear-resistant rails, which made it possible to significantly increase the speed of movement of cars. But repairing tram tracks is not everything. Now a green wave has been launched for electric vehicles. This is a special adjustment of traffic lights and motion sensors. The latter are set to approach large vehicles. According to experts, both trams and car enthusiasts lose five times less time to cross intersections: trams do not have to wait until the green light turns on for them and the drivers stand on red when there is no passing tram. The experimental “green wave” received many positive reviews. Therefore, such an intellectual denouement will be established throughout the capital.