Zig Zag (railway) - Disadvantages

Disadvantages

Zig zags suffer from a number of limitations:

• The length of a train is limited to what will fit on the shortest stub track in the zig zag.
• Reversing a train without running an engine around to the rear of the train is hazardous. Top and tail or push pull operation with engines at the rear of the train helps.
• The process is slow due to the need to stop the train after each segment and reverse the switch.
• It is by nature a single track configuration.