ANALYSIS OF SHORT RAMPS FOR DUAL-MODE AND PRT STATIONS

The report is the result of continuing efforts to understand the safe-headway trade-offs for Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) and dual-mode systems. It adds a new dimension to the traditional interactions among control complexity, safety, and acceleration. Analyses and computer programs are developed to determine how short it is possible to make the ramps leading into and out of off-line PRT stations. Simplified reference solutions are obtained and results are presented for state-of-the-art, improved, and advanced system parameters. Potential savings in the costs of stations are very large, due to the high construction cost of station ramps. Both point-follower and vehicle-follower control systems are considered. For point-follower control systems, the acceleration ramp can usually be eliminated. For vehicle-follower control systems, small deviations in the speed of through cars allows both acceleration ramps and deceleration ramps to be appreciably shortened.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared in cooperation with Alden Self-Transit Systems Corp., Natick, Mass.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Systems Center

  55 Broadway, Kendall Square
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Alden Self-transit Systems Corporation

  ,    

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Wright, R D
  • Whitten, R P
• Publication Date: 1977-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 125 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceleration (Mechanics); Automatic control; Automatic train protection; Control systems; Electronic control; Guideways; Intelligent transportation systems; Personal rapid transit; Railroad stations; Ramps; Safety; Structural design; Traffic control; Urban transportation; Vehicles
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced systems; Guideway systems; Station design; Train protection
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167298
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-TSC-UMTA-77-3 Final Rpt., UMTA-MA-06-0048-77-2
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 23 1981 12:00AM