A crossover is a pair of switches that connects two parallel rail tracks, allowing a train on one track to cross over to the other. When two crossovers are present in opposite directions, usually one after the other, the four-switch configuration is called a double crossover. If the crossovers overlap in the shape of the letter X, it is dubbed a scissors crossover or diamond crossover in reference to the diamond crossing in the center. Double switch aka scissors crossovers A railroad switch (known in British and Australian English as (a set of) points or, in technical usage, a turnout) is a mechanical installation provided at a point where rail track A divides into two tracks B and C. It can be set in either... Railroad or railway tracks are used on railways, which, together with railroad switches (points), guide trains without the need for steering. ... In U.S. railroad practice, a level junction (or in the United Kingdom a flat junction) is a railway junction that has a track configuration in which merging or crossing railroad lines provide track connections with each other that require trains to cross over in front of opposing traffic at...

On a crowded system, routine use of crossovers (or switches in general) will reduce throughput, as the switches must be changed for each train. For this reason, on some high-capacity rapid transit systems, crossovers between local and express tracks are not used during normal rush hour service, and service patterns are planned around use of the usually flying junctions at each end of the local-express line. In a setup where each of the two tracks normally carries trains of only one direction, a crossover can be used either to detour ("wrong-rail") around an obstruction or to reverse direction. A crossover can also join two tracks of the same direction, possibly a pair of local and express tracks, and allow trains to switch from one to the other. This article or section is missing needed references or citation of sources. ... Rush hour at Tokyo Station, Yamanote Line A rush hour is a part of the day with busy traffic and hence traffic congestion on the roads and crowded public transport; normally the two periods in a day when people are travelling to or from work or school. ... In U.S. railroad practice, a flying junction is a railway junction that has a track configuration in which merging or crossing railroad lines provide track connections with each other without requiring trains to cross over in front of opposing traffic. ...

An example of a typical single crossover. Image File history File links San Diegan #580 departs Fullerton, California on January 2, 1998 with an Amtrak EMD F40PH pushing. ...

A scissors crossover: two pairs of switches linking two tracks to each other in both directions. double railroad switch From Dutch Wikipedia: spoorwissel This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

A double crossover on a defunct railway. Image File history File links Exicornt2. ...