limitedstop

Limited-stop, often written as limited-stop service, is a form of public transit in which vehicles skip a designated number of stops along a route, offering service between major stations or neighborhoods while omitting many intermediate calls. The objective is to provide faster travel times and higher schedule reliability on busy corridors without requiring riders to transfer to an express or premium service. Limited-stop routes are common for buses, trains, and trams, and the specific set of stops is determined by ridership, population density, and connectivity to transfer points.

In operation, limited-stop services may advertise a shorter list of stops than local services and may revert to a local pattern outside peak periods. The distinction between limited-stop and express services varies by region; some systems reserve "express" for nonstop journeys between major termini, while others use "limited-stop" to describe any service that skips certain stops. Stops that are served tend to be major hubs, downtown stations, interchanges, or locations with high passenger demand.

Benefits of limited-stop services include reduced travel times, lower dwell times at major stops, and improved reliability when congestion or crowding makes frequent stop calls impractical. Drawbacks include reduced accessibility for riders at non-served stops, potential transfers to reach final destinations not served by the limited-stop route, and greater sensitivity to vehicle bunching and schedule irregularities.

Overall, limited-stop services are a common tool in transit planning to balance speed and accessibility on high-demand corridors, often used in conjunction with local and express options to meet diverse travel needs.