NEW SYSTEMS OF TRANSPORTATION IN JAPAN

This paper discusses subways which use rubber tires, monorails, light guideway systems, personal rapid transit (PRT), compound types and other forms of land transportation. In Sapporo City, rubber tires on the wheels of subway trains reduce the noise level. For lateral guidance, each car is equipped with horizontal guide wheels in the middle of its body. Japanese experience regarding the utilization of monorails is very favorable. The VONA and the KRT light guideway systems are described. The former is a small electric car of the unmanned type running on rubber tires. It may run alone or include several vehicles (up to 12) to form a train. In the PRT, an adoption of the Morgan Town System, horizontal guide wheels are used for steering. Tests are presently being carried out on the MAT which has a central guide system, and the KCV which has the side guide system. Comments are made on the Computer Controlled Vehicle System--a PRT system, and on the compound dual mode systems. The latter include the DMB, a vehicle similar to an ordinary bus but which can enter special guideways for driverless operation. Compound systems also include the Beltica--a moving way system with cabs.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was prepared for the Japan Society of Civil Engineers.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Tokyo

  Department of Civil Engineering
  7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku
  Tokyo,   Japan  113-8656
• Authors:
  • Yasoshima, Y
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 29-41
• Serial:
  • Tokyo University Collected Papers
  • Volume: 14
  • Publisher: University of Tokyo

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated vehicle control; Bus transportation; Dual mode transportation systems; Electric vehicles; Light rail transit; Monorail transportation; Noise control; Personal rapid transit; Subways; Tires; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Guided vehicles
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00151961
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Paper No. 7604
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1981 12:00AM