THE GEC MINITRAM. AUTOMATION IN URBAN TRANSPORTATION

This paper describes the minitram system of automatically controlled vehicles running on their own segregated track. In particular, the TRRL specification for a minitram vehicle is given, the aim of which was its application as A passenger-carrying public demonstration system in sheffield. Details are given of the traction motor which drives both axles, the use of steel wheels running on steel rails and associated noise levels, the guiding system, pneumatically operated disc brakes, and the computer control and signalling system. It is claimed that in peak hours, minitram can carry up to 20000 passengers per hour with the vehicles operating in three-tram sets, and, because of the lack of congestion, journey speeds are high. It is concluded that minitram offers an attractive solution to the problem of transporting people in cities. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  General Electric

  Marine Turbine & Gear Engineer, 1100 Western Ave
  Lynn, MA  United States  01910
• Authors:
  • HOWARD, M G
• Publication Date: 1975

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 3-8
• Serial:
  • GEC Journal of Science and Technology
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: General Electric

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated vehicle control; Automatic control; Brakes; Control; Control devices; Demonstration projects; Design; Digital computers; Disc brakes; Information processing; Motor vehicles; Motors; Public transit; Sound level; Speed; Traffic speed; Urban areas; Urban transportation; Vehicle capacity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Guided vehicles
• ITRD Terms: 1361: Brake; 1251: Capacity (veh); 3874: Control; 9011: Design (overall design); 8673: Digital computer; 1334: Motor; 6747: Sound level; 5408: Speed; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00138913
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 26 1981 12:00AM