meet
A meeting of two trains in opposite directions on a single track, when one is put into a siding to let the other cross.
meet: two trains, one track, one waits in the siding
A meet occurs when two trains traveling in opposite directions approach each other on a single-track railway line. Since they cannot pass, one train is diverted into a siding (a short branch track) while the other proceeds on the main line. The train in the siding waits until the opposing train has fully cleared before resuming its journey. This is a fundamental operational necessity on railways where double track is uneconomical or impractical.
Meets are scheduled in advance by the railway dispatcher based on published timetables, train speed, siding length, and line capacity. The dispatcher issues meet instructions to each train's crew before departure, specifying which train holds the siding and approximately where the meet will occur. Modern railways often use GPS, radio, and digital signaling to coordinate meets with precision; older operations relied on timetable intervals and line-of-sight communication between crew members.
Siding length and train makeup
The siding must be long enough to accommodate the entire length of the train that will occupy it. A freight train might stretch 1.5 to 2 kilometers; a passenger train typically 200 to 400 meters. If a train is longer than available siding length, the meet point must be adjusted further down the line, or the longer train must proceed without stopping while the shorter one pulls aside. Dispatchers must therefore know the consists (makeup) of both trains to plan meets safely.
When a train enters a siding during a meet, it must decelerate early enough to stop clear of the main line switch before the opposing train arrives. The switch must then be positioned to allow the main-line train to pass. After the main-line train has cleared, the switch is reset and the waiting train accelerates back onto the main line. Poor siding design or miscalculated timing can force trains to wait several hours for the next available meet point.
The term 'meet' is used as both noun and verb: crews speak of 'taking a meet' or being 'met by' an oncoming train. On heavily-traveled single-track lines, meets occur every few hours; on lightly-used branches, they may be rare enough that dispatchers must calculate meet points manually for each day's traffic. Single-track railways with frequent meets can actually move less total tonnage than double-track lines, which is why main routes are doubled.