Circular railways for urban fixed track systems : a comparative study of three circular railways

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on a particular rail transit network configuration, the circular configuration. The intention is to figure out what drives the planning of circular configurations and what elements and factors need to be considered in the planning process. This dissertation reviews the evolution process of three historical rail transit networks viz New York, London and Moscow, identifies the key aspects of the relationships between urbanization and urban fixed track system, and tests their relevance. Then using multiple case studies approach, this study conducts detail analysis of three circular railways, Guangzhou Metro Line 11, Yamanote Line, and Yangon Circular Railway. Utilizing framework analysis approach, the findings from the relationships between urbanization and urban fixed track system and from the multiple case studies are used to build an analytical framework to look at the planning process of circular configurations.