Editing Limited-stop

{{Short description|Public transport trip pattern}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}

In [[public transit]], particularly [[bus]], [[tram]], or [[train]] transportation, a '''limited-stop''' (or sometimes referred to as '''semi-fast''') service is a trip pattern that stops less frequently than a local service. Many limited-stop or semi-fast services are a combination of [[commuter rail]] and [[express train]].

The term is normally used on routes with a mixture of fast and slow services, and can differ in meaning, depending on how it is used by different transit agencies. The main benefits of limited-stop or semi-fast services is the ability to utilise [[skip-stop]] calling pattern to maximise capacity along the line, as opposed to a commuter service stopping at every station which slows trailing express trains down.

==Railways==
[[File:Outbound MNRR train approaching Fordham station, June 2016.jpg|thumb|This approaching train will not stop at this station.]]
On railways, the layout of the tracks and number and length of platforms at stations normally limit the extent to which a blend of fast/semi-fast/slow services can be operated.

===Australia===
In Australia, particularly in [[Queensland Rail City network|Brisbane]] and [[NSW TrainLink|Sydney]], limited stop services are formed by commuter trains that run as limited stops or express services from the city centre to the edge of the suburban area and then as all stops in the interurban area (an example of such an express pattern can be seen on the [[Gold Coast railway line|Gold Coast line]] and the [[Airport_%26_South_Line|East Hills line]]).

=== Finland ===
In [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]], [[VR commuter rail]] services are formed by trains that run as limited stops or express from the city centre and then stop all stations in the interurban area. The Y train is one such example.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2022 |title=y Route - Schedules, Stops & Maps - Helsinki (Updated) |url=https://moovitapp.com/index/en/public_transit-line-Y-Helsinki-1084-10220-424406-0 |website=Moovit}}</ref>

=== Japan ===
In Japan, the limited stops train is known as a '''semi-express train''' ({{Lang|ja|準急}} ''Junkyū''). An example is applied to [[Nankai Railway]]'s [[Koya Line]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrigan |first=Liam |date=2020-02-20 |title=Nankai |url=https://www.osaka.com/info/osaka-transportation/nankai-electric-railway/ |access-date=2022-10-20 |website=Osaka.com |language=en-AU}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
In the United Kingdom, some railway stations have tracks for which there are no platforms, allowing a larger number of fast trains to pass them without stopping. They may go down the middle of the station or down the side such as at {{Stnlink|Forest Hill}}, {{Stnlink|Raynes Park}}, {{Stnlink|Kentish Town}} and {{Stnlink|Totnes}} (the middle track at Totnes is used only in the summer by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] services between {{Stnlink|London Paddington}} and {{Stnlink|Newquay}}).

===United States===
In the United States, some railway stations have tracks for which there are no platforms. For instance, various commuter rail services run along the same tracks as [[Amtrak]]'s [[Acela Express]] and [[Northeast Corridor]] routes with four rails, two in the middle for Amtrak, and two on either side for the commuter rail. There are also Express services within those, as at many smaller stations, the Northeast Corridor trains will split off onto the commuter rail tracks to make a stop, and the Acela trains will continue.

====Subways====
[[File:Broad Street Line Modern Map.jpg|thumb|Map of the [[B (SEPTA Metro)|B]] in Philadelphia]]
The United States also uniquely has subways that use this method. In [[New York City]], [[New York City Subway nomenclature|services]] are designated as separate lines, which are often part-express, part-local, while others are only express at certain times of day, for example the [[J/Z (New York City Subway service)|J and Z]] services. In [[Philadelphia]], they are considered the same line, but with a few different types of services. The [[B (SEPTA Metro)|B]] has the local (B1), which makes all stops; the express (B2), which has an early Southern terminus in the city center; the spur (B3), which makes a few more stops than the express but less than the local, and then branches out to service two other stations), and the special, which is run only during sporting events, and runs as the express but then continues nonstop down to the southern terminus of the local, sharing tracks with the local.

==Buses==
Traditionally, limited-stop bus services usually operate on an identical or similar route to one or more local bus routes, only serving primary stops, and skipping the others served by local routes. Typically, the stops that are served by limited stop routes are chosen so that stops are evenly spaced or are transfer points, major intersections, or popular destinations. Within [[central business district|downtowns]], limited-stop services may stop more frequently. Depending on the transit agency, this can sometimes be referred to as express service. For example, [[Chicago Transit Authority]] refers to both this type and [[Express bus|non-stop]] services as express.

Limited-stop bus service is a core component of [[bus rapid transit]] (BRT), but differs by not sharing most of the common features of bus rapid transit such as unique route branding, off-vehicle fare collection, signal preemption, frequent all-day service, and dedicated right-of-way. For example, the [[RapidRide]] lines in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] are existing local [[King County Metro]] routes but with fewer stops and some BRT features being adopted at some stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=RapidRide |url=http://metro.kingcounty.gov/travel-options/bus/rapidride/ |publisher=[[King County Metro]] |access-date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> In other cities, such as [[Hong Kong]], limited stop bus service currently uses the same branding and has the same features (except stopping less frequently) as regular bus routes.

Other forms of limited-stop bus service other than the traditional type characterized by serving only some of the stops. Some bus routes with portions of the route are non-stop are referred to as limited stop by the transit agency that operates the route.

One form is a route that operates partially on a highway. It is more similar to an express bus route than the traditional limited stop route. However, the non-stop portion of the route is typically shorter than that of an express route, and the fare structure of the transit agency cause a limited stop route to have a lower fare than an express route.

One example of this type of route would be [[Metro Transit (Minnesota)|Metro Transit]] Route 114 in Minneapolis, MN. The route originates at the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis, then it travels several miles on Interstates 35W and 94, before it begins to operate as local service through the Uptown area of Minneapolis.

Another form of limited stop bus service includes local routes that may operate certain trips with limited or non-stop sections. For example, to aid commute times for downtown workers, Metro Transit Route 12 in Minneapolis operates during peak hours as non-stop for approximately eight blocks between Franklin Avenue and Uptown Transit Station, but the route serves all stops along that section at other times.

==See also==
* [[Bus rapid transit]]
* [[Express bus service]]
* [[Express train]]
* [[Limited express]]
* [[Skip-stop]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Passenger rail transport]]