Vspår

Vspår, literally “V-track” in Swedish, is a term used in railway contexts to refer to a track configuration where a secondary track diverges from the mainline in a V-shaped geometry. The term is primarily found in Swedish rail planning and operations literature, but its exact meaning can vary by source. In typical usage, a V-spår serves as a short yard spur or turnout that allows trains or individual wagons to be shunted from the main track into a side track and then returned, often in places where space is limited. This makes it a practical solution for tight urban yards or industrial spurs, where a full wye or larger interlocking would be impractical.

The design considerations of a Vspår focus on safe and efficient operations within constrained real estate. Key issues include the geometry of the diverging route, sighting and signaling, clearance for rolling stock, and compatibility with yard control systems. Depending on the installation, Vspår can be a simple manually operated siding or integrated into an automated yard and traffic-management system. The concept is one of several track-layout options used to manage rolling stock without requiring extensive infrastructure.

In some contexts, the term may appear in model railway discussions to describe a V-shaped track arrangement that mimics real-world operations. Overall, Vspår denotes a compact, V-shaped track feature used to facilitate selective routing and storage of rail vehicles within limited-space environments. See also: track layout, turnout, siding.