TRIDIM AEROTRAIN--AN ECONOMICAL ALTERNATIVE TO URBAN TRANSPORTATION

The Tridim system described uses air-cushion suspension and electric drive. It is intended for transportation traffic densities midway between buses and subway, as for urban traffic in medium-size cities, large suburban areas, or within airports or large business or manufacturing complexes. In such applications, distances between stations stay around a few hundred meters, exceptionally a few kilometers. Thus optimal crusing speed generally stands between 40 and 70 km/h, acceleration performances being often more significant than mere speed. An experimental Tridim program has been on trial since mid 1973. It consists of a short track illustrating lay-out difficulties (20 m radius bend--10 m curve switch--20% slope) and a 4/6 seats test vehicle equipped with a simple on-board automatic program. Motors are all electric, propulsion using pinions on a rack coated with synthetic rubber. The whole prototype installation, including design and testing, has been carried out within a budget of 2.5 million French francs, evidence of the favorable economics of the system.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Symposium held February 19-21, 1974 and sponsored by the Electric Vehicle Council, New York, New York.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Electric Vehicle Symp & Expo, 3rd

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Bertin, J
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated guideway transit; Intelligent transportation systems; Personal rapid transit; Propulsion; Technology; Test facilities; Urban transportation; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Propulsion systems
• Geographic Terms: France
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced systems; Automated guideway systems
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00127633
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 7433 Proc Paper
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 16 1981 12:00AM