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Rail directions

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301:; while trains leaving Beijing are "down". Trains run through Beijing may have two or more numbers, for example, the train from Harbin to Shanghai K58/55 uses two different numbers: on the Harbin–Tianjin section, the train runs toward Beijing, the train is known as K58, but on the Tianjin–Shanghai section, the train is known as K55; the opposite train from Shanghai to Harbin is known as K56/57, while K56 is used from Shanghai to Tianjin and K57 is used from Tianjin to Harbin. Generally even numbers denote trains heading towards Beijing while odd numbers are those heading away from the capital. 43: 750:. This greatly reduces the possibility of misunderstanding the direction in which a train is travelling as it traverses lines which may twist and turn or even reverse direction for a distance. These directions also have significance in resolving conflicts between trains running in opposite directions. For example, many railroads specify that trains of equal class running to the east are 627:
direction is the direction of increasing mileage. With rail traffic in Poland operating on the right-hand side, down/odd tracks are usually on the right on double-track lines, and signalling equipment numbering follows this. Train numbers adhere to this directional principle to the extreme: trains
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entering a line in opposite direction of their previous line will change numbers accordingly (with numbering pairs: 0/1, 2/3, 4/5, 6/7, 8/9), and to give an example, 1300 and 1301 are the exact same train in Poland, with the even and odd numbers applying over different sections of its journey.
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are "down" trains. An interstate train travelling from Sydney to Melbourne is a "down" train until it crosses the state border at Albury, where it changes its classification to an "up" train. Even in states that follow this practice, exceptions exist for individual lines. In the state of
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The railway systems of the Australian states have generally followed the practices of railways in the United Kingdom. Railway directions are usually described as "up" and "down", with "up" being towards the major location in most states, which is usually the capital city of the state. In
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In British practice, railway directions are usually described as "up" and "down", with "up" being towards a major location. This convention is applied not only to the trains and the tracks, but also to items of lineside equipment and to areas near a track. Since British trains
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In Russia (and ex-USSR countries), the "even direction" is usually north- and eastbound, while the "odd direction" is south- and westbound. Trains travelling "even" and "odd" usually receive even and odd numbers as well as track and signal numbers, respectively.
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In Taiwan, trains travelling north towards Keelung on the west-coast Main Line and towards Badu on the Yilan Line are considered "up" trains. However, on other parts of the network, the terminology "clockwise" and "counter-clockwise" is used instead.
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For railways in China that are not connected with Beijing, north and west are used as "up", and east and south as "down". Odd numbered train codes are used for "down" trains, while even numbers are used for "up"; for example, train T27 from
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are used to describe train directions on rail systems. The terms used may be derived from such sources as compass directions, altitude directions, or other directions. These directions are often specific to system, country, or region.
227:, where Belfast is "down". Mileposts normally increase in the "down" direction, but there are exceptions, such as the Trowbridge line between Bathampton Junction and Hawkeridge Junction, where mileage increases in the "up" direction. 368:
south, so the trains are referred as Northbound/Southbound. For other, private railway operators, the designation of "up" or "down" (if at all) usually relies on where the company is headquartered as "up".
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In double track loop lines – such as those encircling a city – the tracks, trains and trackside equipment can be identified by their relative distance from the centre of the loop.
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directions usually heading away from major cities (with historical exceptions in place) and thus functionally the equivalent of the British "down" direction. The
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Typically an entire railroad system (the lines of a railroad or a related group of railroads) will describe all of its lines by only two directions, either
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to refer to northbound and southbound respectively. The nominal railroad direction is determined by how the line will travel when it enters
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means heading away from Paris. This convention is applied not only to the trains and the tracks, but also to items of lineside equipment.
1021: 498: 739:. These directions are often referred to as "railroad" north, south, east, or west, to avoid confusion with the compass directions. 668: 425:, "up" and "down" directions are individually defined for each line. Therefore, a train heading towards the main railway station in 126: 785:
are rare examples). Even-numbered trains (superior) travel east (or north). Odd-numbered trains (inferior) travel west (or south).
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of a station platform or train is the end nearer to London. First class accommodation, where provided, is usually at this end. The
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In the United States, most railroads use "east and west", and it is unusual for a railroad to designate "north and south" (the
400:. The direction is signposted along the track, with the mileage increasing in the up direction, and also on the platform ends. 238:. Trains running towards London are normally referred to as "up" trains, and those away from London as "down". Hence the down 107: 64: 79: 829: 165: 86: 263: 203:
has its own peculiar usage, relating to the literal meaning of travelling "up" and "down" the valley. On the former
429:(Roma Street station) would be classified as an "up" train on some lines but as a "down" train on other lines. In 357: 53: 212: 93: 663:, the directions may indicate clockwise or counterclockwise (anti-clockwise) bound trains. For example, on the 243: 898: 461:
services in the United States, the rail directions are related to the location of the city centre. The term
365: 298: 267: 254:. This distinction is less meaningful for trains not travelling towards or away from London; for instance a 247: 75: 946: 377: 348:
are considered "up" trains, while those heading away are "down" trains, with a notable exceptions for the
592:) trains conventionally travel north- and west-bound. The city of Paris is referenced in colloquial use ( 833: 600:
trains virtually leading towards it (Paris being in a north-western direction from any point in Italy).
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refers to the track and its trains that are furthermost from the geographic centre. One example is the
340:, and these terms are widely employed in timetables, as well as station announcements and signage. For 817: 774: 759: 718:, in a system where trains go clockwise on the outer track and counter-clockwise on the inner track. 671:, the directions are often referred to as "inner rail" (anti-clockwise) or "outer rail" (clockwise). 413: 184: 180: 732: 493:
is the opposite end. This usage is problematic where more than one route to London exists (e.g. at
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lines which are both loop lines operated by JR Group companies. There is also an exception for the
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line and other similar trains that runs past Tokyo Station, as officially the line is part of
152: 100: 908: 792:, geographic direction naming generally prevails (e.g. eastbound, westbound) except for the 782: 909: 679: 430: 405: 393: 381: 353: 204: 188: 168:, the "up" side of a line is usually on the left when proceeding in the "up" direction. 755: 397: 1015: 805: 675: 653: 458: 454: 349: 345: 274: 239: 372:
In Hong Kong, most lines have their "down" direction towards the terminal closer to
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refers to the track and its trains that are closer to the geographic centre.
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to those running west. This means that, if two trains are approaching a
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is used for the opposite direction leading out of the city centre.
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for the directions of their lines, which often differ from actual
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The same practice is used for circle routes in Japan, such as the
380:, where the down line is towards Disneyland to be consistent with 208: 853:
Yonge, John; Padgett, David (August 2010) . Bridge, Mike (ed.).
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is used for the direction leading in toward the city centre and
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varying from line to line); except for cross-border services to
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westbound train must "take the siding" and wait there for the
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A similar system is in use in Italy, where directions can be
857:(5th ed.). Bradford on Avon: Trackmaps. maps 4C, 11C. 27:
General or logical direction of a railway line or service
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In France, railway directions are usually described as
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On most of the network, "up" is the direction towards
30:"Up the line" redirects here. For the 1969 novel, see 836:
is "down" (going away from Beijing) since 27 is odd.
682:, where directions are usually referred to as "outer" 230:
Individual tracks will have their own names, such as
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In Japan, railway directions are referred to as "up"
974:. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency 392:. The up/down direction was switched in the former 67:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 155:(usually a major city) to define rail directions. 731:Most railroads in the United States use nominal 396:such that it could be connected with the former 709: 691: 477:Some British rail directions commonly used are 331: 313: 703: 685: 325: 307: 288: 278: 8: 667:of London Underground or the loop of the 127:Learn how and when to remove this message 996:. Metropolitan Transportation Authority 845: 796:where it is Outer Rail and Inner Rail. 151:Many rail systems use the concept of a 925:"Directional Running of Trains in QLD" 619:) to designate line directions, with 433:, there are two (2) up/down origins: 215:network, "up" generally means toward 7: 65:adding citations to reliable sources 277:in Beijing are described as "up" ( 273:In China, railway directions with 25: 855:Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western 945:Ferry, J. Amanda (20 May 2003). 537:means heading toward Paris, and 41: 888:JR Timetable, March 2012 issue. 800:Other names for north and south 344:trains, trains heading towards 52:needs additional citations for 1: 497:via Salisbury or Bristol, or 270:and "down" lines thereafter. 412:are "down" trains, while in 179:, with the exception of the 710: 692: 416:, trains running away from 408:, trains running away from 384:where it branches from. On 364:north of Tokyo Station and 332: 314: 1043: 636:Circumferential directions 557:is equivalent either with 266:uses "up" lines as far as 29: 1022:Rail transport operations 770:eastbound train to pass. 704: 686: 603:Polish railways also use 326: 308: 289: 279: 213:Northern Ireland Railways 994:"How to Ride the Subway" 376:, with the exception of 899:"鐵流 Railic on Facebook" 722:Geographical directions 533:in the British system. 1027:Orientation (geometry) 378:Disneyland Resort line 297:), with "up" towards 185:East Coast Main Lines 775:New York City Subway 525:), corresponding to 473:City name directions 449:Inbound and outbound 388:, the "down" end is 61:improve this article 733:cardinal directions 727:Cardinal directions 252:London King's Cross 219:(the specific zero 790:London Underground 737:compass directions 596:in Italian), with 499:Edinburgh Waverley 191:, "up" is towards 18:Railroad direction 947:"Boston's subway" 864:978-0-9549866-6-7 760:single-track line 678:in Tokyo and the 207:"up" was towards 147:Radial directions 137: 136: 129: 111: 76:"Rail directions" 16:(Redirected from 1034: 1006: 1005: 1003: 1001: 990: 984: 983: 981: 979: 972:"Muni Metro Map" 968: 962: 961: 959: 958: 942: 936: 935: 933: 931: 921: 915: 914: 912: 907:. Archived from 895: 889: 886: 880: 875: 869: 868: 850: 816:are used in the 783:Washington Metro 717: 716: 713: 707: 706: 699: 698: 695: 689: 688: 547:quasi-homophonic 495:Exeter St Davids 339: 338: 335: 329: 328: 321: 320: 317: 311: 310: 292: 291: 282: 281: 132: 125: 121: 118: 112: 110: 69: 45: 37: 21: 1042: 1041: 1037: 1036: 1035: 1033: 1032: 1031: 1012: 1011: 1010: 1009: 999: 997: 992: 991: 987: 977: 975: 970: 969: 965: 956: 954: 944: 943: 939: 929: 927: 923: 922: 918: 897: 896: 892: 887: 883: 876: 872: 865: 852: 851: 847: 842: 802: 748:north and south 729: 724: 714: 701: 696: 683: 680:Osaka Loop Line 638: 584:respectively). 563:direction Paris 507: 475: 451: 431:South Australia 406:New South Wales 394:Ma On Shan line 382:Tung Chung line 336: 323: 318: 305: 248:Flying Scotsman 205:Midland Railway 199:network around 189:Borders Railway 166:run on the left 161: 149: 140:Rail directions 133: 122: 116: 113: 70: 68: 58: 46: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1040: 1038: 1030: 1029: 1024: 1014: 1013: 1008: 1007: 985: 963: 937: 916: 913:on 2022-04-30. 890: 881: 870: 863: 844: 843: 841: 838: 801: 798: 756:passing siding 728: 725: 723: 720: 637: 634: 559:direction Pair 506: 503: 474: 471: 450: 447: 398:West Rail line 287:) and "down" ( 160: 157: 148: 145: 135: 134: 117:September 2008 49: 47: 40: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1039: 1028: 1025: 1023: 1020: 1019: 1017: 995: 989: 986: 973: 967: 964: 952: 948: 941: 938: 926: 920: 917: 911: 906: 905: 900: 894: 891: 885: 882: 879: 878:Train numbers 874: 871: 866: 860: 856: 849: 846: 839: 837: 835: 831: 825: 823: 819: 815: 811: 807: 806:New York City 799: 797: 795: 791: 786: 784: 780: 776: 771: 769: 765: 761: 757: 753: 749: 745: 744:east and west 740: 738: 734: 726: 721: 719: 712: 694: 681: 677: 676:Yamanote Line 672: 670: 666: 662: 661:circle routes 657: 655: 654:Sydney Trains 651: 647: 643: 635: 633: 629: 626: 622: 618: 614: 610: 606: 601: 599: 595: 591: 587: 583: 579: 575: 571: 566: 564: 560: 556: 552: 548: 544: 540: 536: 532: 528: 524: 520: 516: 512: 504: 502: 500: 496: 492: 488: 484: 480: 472: 470: 468: 464: 460: 459:rapid transit 456: 455:commuter rail 448: 446: 442: 440: 436: 432: 428: 424: 419: 415: 411: 407: 401: 399: 395: 391: 387: 383: 379: 375: 370: 367: 363: 359: 358:Keihin Tohoku 355: 351: 347: 346:Tokyo Station 343: 334: 316: 302: 300: 296: 286: 276: 271: 269: 265: 261: 257: 253: 249: 245: 241: 240:Night Riviera 237: 233: 228: 226: 222: 218: 214: 210: 206: 202: 198: 194: 190: 186: 182: 178: 175:. In most of 174: 169: 167: 158: 156: 154: 146: 144: 141: 131: 128: 120: 109: 106: 102: 99: 95: 92: 88: 85: 81: 78: –  77: 73: 72:Find sources: 66: 62: 56: 55: 50:This article 48: 44: 39: 38: 33: 19: 998:. Retrieved 988: 976:. Retrieved 966: 955:. Retrieved 951:Boston Globe 950: 940: 928:. Retrieved 919: 910:the original 902: 893: 884: 873: 854: 848: 830:Beijing West 826: 813: 809: 808:, the terms 803: 787: 772: 767: 763: 751: 747: 743: 741: 730: 673: 669:Central line 658: 652:line in the 645: 641: 639: 630: 624: 620: 616: 612: 608: 604: 602: 597: 593: 589: 585: 581: 577: 573: 569: 567: 562: 558: 554: 550: 542: 538: 534: 530: 526: 522: 518: 514: 510: 508: 505:Even and odd 490: 486: 482: 478: 476: 466: 462: 452: 443: 435:Port Augusta 402: 386:Tuen Ma line 371: 366:Tokaido Line 303: 294: 284: 272: 256:CrossCountry 235: 231: 229: 197:Valley Lines 170: 162: 150: 139: 138: 123: 114: 104: 97: 90: 83: 71: 59:Please help 54:verification 51: 794:Circle line 779:Chicago "L" 711:uchi-mawari 700:and "inner" 693:soto-mawari 665:Circle line 650:City Circle 609:nieparzysty 555:direction P 491:country end 362:Tohoku Line 264:Bournemouth 258:train from 246:and the up 159:Up and down 32:Up the Line 1016:Categories 1000:31 October 978:31 October 957:2016-02-27 840:References 781:, and the 487:London end 423:Queensland 390:Wu Kai Sha 354:Osaka Loop 322:and "down" 260:Manchester 187:, and the 87:newspapers 822:Manhattan 517:(meaning 418:Melbourne 285:shàngxíng 236:Down Loop 211:. On the 193:Edinburgh 953:. Boston 904:Facebook 814:downtown 768:superior 764:inferior 752:superior 656:system. 605:parzysty 561:or with 545:is also 467:outbound 453:In many 439:Adelaide 427:Brisbane 414:Victoria 350:Yamanote 342:JR Group 275:terminus 244:Penzance 242:runs to 221:milepost 177:Scotland 930:20 July 788:On the 574:Dispari 483:Country 463:inbound 374:Central 299:Beijing 295:xiàxíng 268:Reading 232:Up Main 217:Belfast 201:Cardiff 101:scholar 861:  818:subway 810:uptown 777:, the 762:, the 594:Parigi 539:Impair 515:Impair 485:. The 479:London 410:Sydney 333:Kudari 315:Nobori 225:Dublin 195:. The 173:London 153:centre 103:  96:  89:  82:  74:  834:Lhasa 758:on a 746:, or 646:Outer 642:Inner 553:, so 551:Paris 549:with 209:Derby 108:JSTOR 94:books 1002:2013 980:2013 932:2014 859:ISBN 812:and 659:For 615:and 613:even 607:and 598:Pari 590:Even 586:Pari 580:and 578:Even 570:Pari 543:Pair 535:Pair 531:Down 529:and 521:and 519:Even 513:and 511:Pair 481:and 457:and 437:and 352:and 183:and 181:West 80:news 832:to 804:In 705:内回り 687:外回り 625:odd 621:odd 617:odd 582:Odd 572:or 523:Odd 501:). 262:to 250:to 234:or 63:by 1018:: 949:. 901:. 824:. 708:, 690:, 565:. 527:Up 441:. 330:, 327:下り 312:, 309:上り 293:, 290:下行 283:, 280:上行 1004:. 982:. 960:. 934:. 867:. 715:) 702:( 697:) 684:( 611:( 588:( 576:( 337:) 324:( 319:) 306:( 130:) 124:( 119:) 115:( 105:· 98:· 91:· 84:· 57:. 34:. 20:)

Index

Railroad direction
Up the Line

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"Rail directions"
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centre
run on the left
London
Scotland
West
East Coast Main Lines
Borders Railway
Edinburgh
Valley Lines
Cardiff
Midland Railway
Derby
Northern Ireland Railways
Belfast
milepost
Dublin
Night Riviera

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