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A tram roundabout or grand circle is a circular

rail junction A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge. This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes (assuming they are of the same gauge), provided by ''points'' ( ...

for

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

s in the shape of a

roundabout A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.''The New Shorter Oxford En ...

. A tram roundabout is able to provide the equivalent any-to-any connection of a

grand union A grand union is a rail track junction where two double-track railway or tramway lines cross at grade, often in a street intersection or crossroads. A total of sixteen railroad switches (sets of points) allow streetcars (or in rarer installati ...

, but with a simplified tramway track configuration using

one-way traffic One-way traffic (or uni-directional traffic) is traffic that moves in a single direction. A one-way street is a street either facilitating only one-way traffic, or designed to direct vehicles to move in one direction. One-way streets typical ...

, fewer turnouts and reduction in level junctions, at the cost of slightly more space.

Tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

s may continue as

in an endless loop around the tram roundabout junction. A circular roundabout design is often used to allowing passing around a centrally-placed monument, or fountain, or small park.

Standard design

Special variations

Former

On 8 September 1968, one week before closure of

Liverpool Corporation Tramways Liverpool Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Liverpool between 1898 and 1957. History In 1897, Liverpool Corporation bought the Liverpool United Tramway and Omnibus Company and obtained a Private Act of Parliament, the Liver ...

, tram car 245 completed three complete laps of the St. Oswald Street tram roundabout whilst being filmed.

References

{{Tram-stub Rail junction types