Yes – left-hand running has been the rule since the beginning of the railway system in the early 19th century.
Do trains run on the left or right in the US?
right sideTraditionally trains in North America almost always ran on the right side, just like driving on our highways. Modern signal systems have been installed to allow more flexibility of operations so that many railroads can run in either direction on any track.
What countries do trains run on the left?
Thus in Belgium, China (apart from metro systems), France (apart from the classic lines of the former German Alsace and Lorraine), Sweden (apart from Malmö and further south), Switzerland, Italy and Portugal for example, the railways use left-hand running, while the roads use right-hand running.
Why do trains in France drive on the left?
France is an exception to this rule. Cars drive on the right, but trains run on the left. This is because the early railways were mainly built using British expertise and standard equipment “out of the box”.
Why do trains travel on the left?
Do trains always run on the left?
It depends on the country, with some countries generally on the left, such as the UK, Japan, India and France and others generally on the right such as the US, Canada and Germany.
Why are trains always given the right of way?
Trains can't stop on a dime or pull over to the side. So even in the presence of emergency vehicles, the police or pedestrians, they have the right of way every time. That includes cars, too.
Why doesn’t the rest of Europe drive on the left?
The subsequent Revolutionary wars and Napoleon's European conquests led to the spread of driving on the right to Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. Napoleon ordered his armies to use the right-hand side of the road in order to avoid congestion during military manoeuvres.
Why does London drive on the left?
In 1773, as British roads became more developed and congested, the government brought in the General Highways Act, which stated that all horse riders, farmers, coachmen and lawless highwaymen must remain on the left side to avoid any nasty collisions, even before cars had been invented.