Other Definitions
interurban (dict)
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InterurbanInterurban was the name used to describe a streetcar line connecting urban areas, primarily during the early 1900s. In the USA, streetcars often competed with conventional passenger rail transportation, being less expensive but slower in speed. For technological and other reasons most interurban systems have now been replaced by bus transport or light rail. In some instances street cars have been reintroduced as a form of retro-transportation to encourage tourism. Brief history United States of America In the late 1890s, electric traction systems called streetcars which had been developed by F. Spraigue, expanded rapidly. By the end of 1904 several thousand miles of track had been laid. From 1906 until 1908 another 15,000 miles of interurban track were layed down. Most of the interurban track that had been laid was located in Ohio and Indiana. Both states had 3,000 miles of track. In Michigan and Illinois there was another 2,000 miles of track which were interconnected. In Texas and in California thousands of miles of additional track was also laid down by different companies. In the early 1900s interurban transportation was very popular in both rural areas cities. Although slower in speed than than steam driven passenger trains, the interurban system made up for speed by increased service. After 1910 the popularity of the Ford Model T automobile began to diminish the interurban passenger load and during the 1920s many interurban systems were declared bankrupt. As a result of this shift in transportation methods the small and non-profitable lines were discontinued. By the 1930s the interurban passenger street cars began to disappear, although some of their rail lines were converted from electric traction to the carriage of freight drawn by steam engines. By the 1960s, the few interurban street car systems that remained in service included the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad, the Northern Indiana Railway, and the Norristown High Speed Line and other Philadelphia suburban lines. See also: Australia In Australia, electrified interurban commuter railway systems are used to connect long distances between urban areas: In Sydney CityRail operates an extensive interurban system from Newcastle to the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands and the South Coast. In Brisbane CityTrain operates a small interurban commuter network that connects the Gold Coast with the Sunshine Coast of Queensland over its Rosewood railway line. New non-electric service In Perth a new interurban rail line will serve Mandurah by 2006. A similar non-electric project is also planned for Victoria. External links
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