Pendair—A Proposed Lower Cost Rapid Transit System Compatible with the Urban Environment

Abstract

Increasing traffic congestion and the possible oil shortages make it desirable to introduce segregated electrically driven rapid transit on a much wider scale than is likely to be achieved by the conventional underground metropolitan railway. The characteristics of rapid transit are examined. It is concluded that new techniques should be developed to supplement existing methods by exploiting the overhead solution to the problem of restricted ground space in urban areas. The Pendair mass transit system is based on a suction air suspension and a concrete beam track. Their favourable interaction leads to a relatively low cost system with some desirable performance, safety and environmental features which are described.