Here's how I'd address the concerns in this thread: tracks=*: number of tracks represented by the way having the tag, as per wiki total_tracks=*: number of tracks in the right-of-way of the rail line, regardless of how many parallel ways exist. This sounds more like a tag appropriate for a rail route relation, except this value can be different for different segments of the line, so its use on ways is appropriate.
Similar tags may exist to count how many tracks are used for a particular type of service (passenger / freight, passing / local, etc) on per-way and total basis. Where two "distinct" rail lines run adjacent for some distance, the total_tracks tag can treat it as two groups of tracks or a single group of tracks, at mapper's discretion — but I would advocate for the two groups treatment unless all the tracks actually are used as a single many-track rail line (local knowledge required).
_______________________________________________ Tagging mailing list Tagging@openstreetmap.org http://lists.openstreetmap.org/listinfo/tagging
