Loop (rail)

In British rail terminology, a loop or passing loop is a stretch of rail track that provides a place for a train to halt temporarily while other trains pass on an adjacent main line. This configuration allows the sequence of trains along a track to change. The feature is common on single-track and busy double track railways throughout Britain and Ireland. In the US this sort of track is called a siding.

In US terminology, a loop refers to a section of track which curves back onto itself to allow trains to change direction. This is less common than a wye track.

A spiral loop is a 360° turn used to gain height in a relative small space, used in railway construction in mountainous areas.

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spiral loop railway in Australia