Paper B: A Public-Transport System Using Four-Passenger Self-Routing Cars

Abstract

The proposed system is an automatic-taxi, public-transport service for towns and cities, capable of 10 000 passengers per hour per track and aimed to be competitive with the private car.

Mini-sized cars are used which carry up to four adult passengers, using induction-motor drives powered from an overhead rail. The cars are driverless and route themselves at 35 mile/h to their destination with no stops at intermediate stations, though they are slowed down when changing to another line. The cars move along a light-weight totally-enclosed track of less than 7 ft diameter, which can be supported above existing roadways or buildings.

The total capital cost is of the order of λ400,000 per single-track mile and the total operational cost 1d. to 2d. per passenger mile. A complete system for a town of 400 000 inhabitants, involving 100 single-track miles, would cost from λ30 million to λ40 million.