Trackless Train mass transit

[poweRob]

Just rides on the roads.

​

 

[Allan]

That's very cool. Sure would reduce the infrastructure costs.

 

[phoenix2020]

As far as I was aware this “trackless train” was merely a three compartment articulated bus. Basically just a longer version of the two compartment articulated buses used all around the world. Did I miss or misunderstand something here?

 

[Allan]

As far as I was aware this “trackless train” was merely a three compartment articulated bus. Basically just a longer version of the two compartment articulated buses used all around the world. Did I miss or misunderstand something here?

It runs like a train - on an embedded guidance track.

 

[phoenix2020]

It runs like a train - on an embedded guidance track.

How is that any different from an autonomous articulated bus?

 

[Allan]

How is that any different from an autonomous articulated bus?

It's longer, has dedicated lanes, and requires less operator input. So more like a train than a bus.

 

[BirdinHand]

How is that any different from an autonomous articulated bus?

I think that’s a potato vs. potatoe type of distinction.

 

[Mycroft]

Just rides on the roads.

​

They probably need to think about that "change the red light to green" thing.

 

[Ishm]

In the 1930's I think we called them "trams". Except of course we had a driver on them back then.

 

[Allan]

They probably need to think about that "change the red light to green" thing.

Emergency vehicles in some cities use that system. Lights turn green in advance of an approaching fire truck etc.

 

[ASHES]

It's longer, has dedicated lanes, and requires less operator input. So more like a train than a bus.

Oh look, found you on another hill.

 

[MamboDervish]

It's longer, has dedicated lanes, and requires less operator input. So more like a train than a bus.

If it has dedicated lanes, it does not reduce infrastructure costs.

 

[The Mark]

If it has dedicated lanes, it does not reduce infrastructure costs.

it's probably cheaper to designate a lane than build a rail system into the road.

Edit: Also, more flexible, because the road can be still used as a road if needed.

 

[Allan]

If it has dedicated lanes, it does not reduce infrastructure costs.

I'm thinking primarily of rails and switching equipment.

 

[MamboDervish]

it's probably cheaper to designate a lane than build a rail system into the road.

Not if there's an embedded guidance track. Moreover, if it is essentially sharing the road with other vehicles, then it will have very serious speed limitations. Is it paved just like a road? Then it gets maintained, salted and plowed like a road, wears like a road, and gets pot holes like a road. It's a tram.

This is merely a hybrid system - a betwixt and between - neither bus nor train, with some advantages and all the limitations of both.

 

[ksu_aviator]

Ok. A big, electric bus with no driver. Calling it a train is a bit of a mislabel.

 

[MamboDervish]

I'm thinking primarily of rails and switching equipment.

I know. I'm thinking of high speed, which this can never be.

 

[Surrealistik]

Just rides on the roads.

​

It's called an e-bus; this is almost as overhyped as Elon's hyperloop or vegas tunnel (but at least it actually works), and just like them, the idea isn't even new:

Is China’s autonomous trackless train just a glorified bus? Yeah, pretty much

China's autonomous trackless train is just a glorified bus and Twitter is bursting over it.

thenextweb.com

China’s New Trackless ‘Train’ is Just a Bus

The “train” is simply an articulated bus.

www.polygraph.info

 

[venice_ca]

Not if there's an embedded guidance track. Moreover, if it is essentially sharing the road with other vehicles, then it will have very serious speed limitations. Is it paved just like a road? Then it gets maintained, salted and plowed like a road, wears like a road, and gets pot holes like a road. It's a tram.

This is merely a hybrid system - a betwixt and between - neither bus nor train, with some advantages and all the limitations of both.

Unless there is truly a dedicated lane — as in only these tram-trains travel in this specific lane — traffic blocks these vehicles the same as passenger cars and conventional buses.

In the greater L.A. metro area there are some attempts to establish dedicated mass transit lanes for buses. One would think that LA was proposing to barbecue puppies and kittens from the cries of the opposition. Previous attempts in the Westside — Mar Vista (LA), Santa Monica, and Culver City — have been greeted with catcalls, and threats of recalls (SM and CC). The personal automobile is a despot.

 

[Carjosse]

That's just a bus with extra steps.

 

[Surrealistik]

Unless there is truly a dedicated lane — as in only these tram-trains travel in this specific lane — traffic blocks these vehicles the same as passenger cars and conventional buses.

In the greater L.A. metro area there are some attempts to establish dedicated mass transit lanes for buses. One would think that LA was proposing to barbecue puppies and kittens from the cries of the opposition. Previous attempts in the Westside — Mar Vista (LA), Santa Monica, and Culver City — have been greeted with catcalls, and threats of recalls (SM and CC). The personal automobile is a despot.

An even more ridiculous idea, an elevated bus that was 'notable' for being to drive over cars as a 'solution' to this problem was also debuted by the Chinese and likewise hyped; it predictably never hit the streets due to obvious clearance issues (too tall to pass under most bridges/tunnels), hogging turns as cars had to wait for it to complete the movement, and its inability to drive above many vehicles, such as cargo trucking, as they were too tall. Ultimately those associated with the project were arrested for fraud.

 

[poweRob]

I know. I'm thinking of high speed, which this can never be.

This is metro transportation not a cross country high speed rail proposal.

 

[poweRob]

I truly think some people come to this site to play a nay saying contrarian throwing peanuts from the gallery no matter the topic.

 

[Surrealistik]

I truly think some people come to this site to play a nay saying contrarian throwing peanuts from the gallery no matter the topic.

Nah, personally I'm not a fan of unwarranted hype in general, and have been similarly critical of absurd and oversung ideas like Elon's hyperloop and ridiculous Vegas tunnel, as well as the 'elevated bus' that likewise came from China.

It especially grinds my gears when I see people roundly touting something that is an iterative improvement of an articulated e-bus like it's the greatest thing for mass transit since trains, boats or the modern passenger jet virtually everywhere I look on social media.