Why aren’t train tracks sloped around stations?

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Trains (whether its a subway/tube or a regular locomotive) travel very quick, and when approaching a station, they need to slow down to a stop.

Why not have the station be built slightly elevated from the tracks? so as the train approaches, it has to climb an upward slope (and therefore trade kinetic energy for potential energy)?

And then when it leaves the station, it can more quickly accelerate and gain up to its target speed? Wouldn’t this be more efficient?

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In: Engineering

20 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Most rail lines have service both ways. Going one way you wouldn’t have the hill to slow you down, going the reverse direction you would be going down hill and use extra braking.

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