Premetro

Premetro (or pre-metro) is a type of light rail designed for eventual conversion to a full rapid transit (also known as a metro).^[1]^[2] These systems typically include infrastructure such as tunnels, viaducts, and dedicated rights-of-way to separate them from other traffic, built to metro standards with wider curves and gentler gradients than conventional light rail lines.^[3]^[4]^[5] However, they often include sections without full segregation, limiting immediate conversion. Premetros are usually operated with light rail vehicles or trams until an upgrade is implemented.

Several cities have referred to portions of their light rail networks as a pre-metro, including Brussels^[6]^[7] and Antwerp.^[8]^[9] Additionally, Buenos Aires has a line light rail line named Premetro,^[10]^[11] however this operates as a feeder line to the metro network, and was not built with plans for conversion to full rapid transit.^[12]

^ De Leuw, Cather & Company (1976). Light Rail Transit: A State of the Art Review, Executive Summary. p. 47. Retrieved 30 August 2023. This step-by-step planning approach to building rail rapid transit is known as pre-metro, implying the intention to ultimately construct a fully grade separated route to be used by rail rapid transit or metro trains.
^ Program, Transit Cooperative Research (2013). "11 Glossary and symbols". Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual. Transportation Research Board. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-309-28344-1. pre-metro — a light rail transit system designed with provisions for easy conversion to heavy rail (rail rapid transit).
^ Mattila, Matti (5 August 2012). Wizzit Magazine 3/2011. Annorlunda Mediatuotanto Oy. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-4478-2842-6. Retrieved 9 August 2024. Premetros also allow a gradual upgrade of existing tramways to rapid transit, thus spreading the investments costs over time.
^ John Hoyle (16 May 1975). "Letters to the editor -- The tram is the answer". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2014. Cities such as Frankfurt and Cologne in West Germany have further developed their tramway system by introducing a concept known as "premetro." In this system trams or light rail vehicles make extensive use of tunnels, reserve track and by utilizing folding steps these vehicles can operate through high or low stopping places.
^ Jenkin, P. (1988). Urban Railways and the Civil Engineer. Thomas Telford. ISBN 978-0-7277-1337-7. Retrieved 9 August 2024. Pre-Metro is an extreme case of light rail, on segregated right of way, and designed to upgrading to metro when passenger demand increases sufficiently.
^ "History - STIB - MIVB". www.stib-mivb.be. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
^ Times, The Brussels. "Schaerbeek pre-metro station gets facelift – others to follow in 2025". www.brusselstimes.com. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
^ "History". www.delijn.be. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
^ News, Flanders (11 February 2022). "Discover the plans for four new Antwerp pre-metro stations". vrtnws.be. Retrieved 27 March 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ "Premetro ≫ Recorrido, estaciones, combinaciones, y horarios". SUBTE (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 March 2025.
^ "City government expands payment options for Subte metro service". Buenos Aires Times. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
^ "Premetro a Puente de la Noria, en el olvido por el Metrobus del Sur". enelSubte (in Spanish). 16 August 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

[DLC&C-1] De Leuw, Cather & Company (1976). Light Rail Transit: A State of the Art Review, Executive Summary. p. 47. Retrieved 30 August 2023. This step-by-step planning approach to building rail rapid transit is known as pre-metro, implying the intention to ultimately construct a fully grade separated route to be used by rail rapid transit or metro trains.

[TRB165-2] Program, Transit Cooperative Research (2013). "11 Glossary and symbols". Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual. Transportation Research Board. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-309-28344-1. pre-metro — a light rail transit system designed with provisions for easy conversion to heavy rail (rail rapid transit).

[3] Mattila, Matti (5 August 2012). Wizzit Magazine 3/2011. Annorlunda Mediatuotanto Oy. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-4478-2842-6. Retrieved 9 August 2024. Premetros also allow a gradual upgrade of existing tramways to rapid transit, thus spreading the investments costs over time.

[SMH-4] John Hoyle (16 May 1975). "Letters to the editor -- The tram is the answer". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 January 2014. Cities such as Frankfurt and Cologne in West Germany have further developed their tramway system by introducing a concept known as "premetro." In this system trams or light rail vehicles make extensive use of tunnels, reserve track and by utilizing folding steps these vehicles can operate through high or low stopping places.

[5] Jenkin, P. (1988). Urban Railways and the Civil Engineer. Thomas Telford. ISBN 978-0-7277-1337-7. Retrieved 9 August 2024. Pre-Metro is an extreme case of light rail, on segregated right of way, and designed to upgrading to metro when passenger demand increases sufficiently.

[6] "History - STIB - MIVB". www.stib-mivb.be. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

[7] Times, The Brussels. "Schaerbeek pre-metro station gets facelift – others to follow in 2025". www.brusselstimes.com. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

[8] "History". www.delijn.be. Retrieved 27 March 2025.

[9] News, Flanders (11 February 2022). "Discover the plans for four new Antwerp pre-metro stations". vrtnws.be. Retrieved 27 March 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)

[10] "Premetro ≫ Recorrido, estaciones, combinaciones, y horarios". SUBTE (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 March 2025.

[11] "City government expands payment options for Subte metro service". Buenos Aires Times. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2025.

[12] "Premetro a Puente de la Noria, en el olvido por el Metrobus del Sur". enelSubte (in Spanish). 16 August 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

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