01 Line open & shunt
Verify CBTC zone healthy and PSDs aligned before entering mainline.
Scores are relative 0–100 marks within this atlas. Use them to browse, not as an engineering spec.
SpeedPractical top speed relative to the other forty-eight types in this atlas.
55
EfficiencyEnergy used per useful trip, relative across the atlas.
90
AccessibilityHow easily an ordinary person can use this mode without special training or wealth.
88
SafetyHow safe the mode is per trip, given normal operation and current regulation.
88
Cultural impactHow deeply this mode has shaped language, status and everyday imagination.
80
Tech disruptionHow much this mode is being rewritten by new technology right now.
50
Last reviewed Sources & creditsMedia creditsMethodology
Quick answers
Which local authority or corridor rules matter for this type?
Start with the local lens: type approval, operator licences and the hubs named on this page — not a single global checklist.
Is this a buying guide?
No. Tool-Lifes /vehicles is an educational atlas. It explains history, systems and culture without affiliate rankings.
Are the scores official?
No. The six scores are relative editorial 0–100 marks across the twenty-four types on this site.
Where do the photos come from?
Lead images resolve from Wikimedia Commons via Wikipedia titles on the English masters, with licences recorded on the credits page.
Why metric units?
Metric is the default. Regional notes (US customary, local brand culture) appear in culture and market chapters.
How is this different from a wiki article?
Each type gets seven fixed-depth chapters, comparable scores and cross-type labs — structured for browsing, not a single freeform page.
Operating a Subway is a closed loop: sense, decide, actuate, and stay inside certified envelopes.
Principles and steps here are physics-first; brand procedures differ, but the envelopes are shared.
Principles
Station dwell dominance
Passenger flow limits throughput more than train max speed on urban lines.
Adhesion on leaf film
Autumn contamination reduces acceleration and extends brake distance.
Moving block spacing
CBTC safe separation shrinks with accurate odometry and low latency radio.
Third-rail gap
Shoes must bridge gaps without losing propulsion on short third-rail sections.
Piston ventilation
Train motion pushes air through stations affecting platform comfort.
Diagrams
CBTC position loop
Train odometrysense
Wayside radiolink
Zone controllercompute
Movement authoritygrant
Train brakeenforce
Station stop sequence
Approach brakeslow
Berthalign
Open doorsexchange
PSD syncinterlock
Departrelease
Operating steps
02 Board & close
Monitor platform CCTV; close doors on interlock clearance.
03 Notch acceleration
Apply traction map to next speed cap respecting jerk limits.
04 Cruise interstations
Coast into stations where grades allow to save brake wear.
05 Precision stop
Berth within ±0.3 m for PSD and gap management.
06 Turnback & sweep
Cab swap or walk-through inspection at terminal loops.
Hard limits
Headway & block limits
CBTC still enforces minimum separation and station occupancy rules.
Platform gap standards
Horizontal and vertical gaps define accessible boarding aids.
Tunnel evacuation routes
Walkways and cross-passages govern emergency egress plans.
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