MEDIUM-CAPACITY TRANSIT GOES SLOW ON AUTOMATION

Automated guideway transit, as applied in Japan, has been marked by rather lengthy routes that the author calls intermediate capacity transit. Most American AGTs are shorter people movers. While the first Japanese AGT, a 6.4-km route opened in Kobe in 1981, operates with no crew onboard, subsequent installations have elected for less than full automation. Four of the six ICT systems use rubber-tire suspensions running on guideways and the the other two are monorails, one straddle and the other suspended. Details on guideway design, vehicles, propulsion, signaling and communications are given. The author explains that experience gained with the first two systems showed that automatic controls were not necessarily cheaper than an operator's wages and his presence did give passengers a sense of increased security. For monorails which lack an emergency walkway along the guideway, it is believed that an operator should be present to deal with emergencies.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03735346
• Corporate Authors:

  Transport Press

  Quadrant House, The Quadrant
  Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS,   England 
• Authors:
  • IGUCHI, M
• Publication Date: 1986-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 43-46
• Serial:
  • Railway Gazette International
  • Volume: 142
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: DVV Media Group
  • ISSN: 0373-5346
  • Serial URL: http://www.railwaygazette.com/about-us.html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated guideway transit; Automatic train operation; Crewless trains; Disasters and emergency operations; Guideways; Monorail transportation; Propulsion; Security; Structural design; Technology; Vehicle design; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Emergency procedures; Propulsion systems
• Geographic Terms: Japan
• Old TRIS Terms: Guideway design
• Subject Areas: Design; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads; Security and Emergencies; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00455133
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 10:00PM