Hybrid Bus/Trains

[x635 4,066]

In the June 2007 edition of Wired Magazine, they had a tidbit on a new Japanese hybrid mass transit vehicle.

It's being developed in Japan. It's called a "dual mode" vehicle. It rides on rubber tires, until it reaches a rail line, where steel rail wheels drop from the undercarriage in under 15 seconds, and boom, it goes from being a bus to being a train. It's currently being tested by the Japense Regional Railroad.

Among the touted features is it uses less fuel and requres less maintanence then a regular train, and could be used in areas where train service isn''t feasible but a connection is needed.

Wonder if the technology will ever make it over here? I know this could really be useeful in putting LA's difficult mass transit system together more.

[Oswegowind 17]

Sounds like a great get-away vehicle...lol

I know that the MTA has vehicles that cross between road/rail for maintenance purposes. This could be the answer to the Tappan Zee railway connection! Get off in T-town, cross the bridge, and then hop on the Rockland tracks...just an idea of course.

[TRUCK6018 50]

It doesn't sound too far off from the Metro North maintenance trucks equipped with the high rail. Although the high rail isn't automatic, you can raise and lower the rail wheels to suit the needs.

[x635 4,066]

Pierce also has used the concept with their "Rail Rescue" vehicle

http://www.piercemfg.com/apparatus/RailRescue.cfm

But, I've never heard of the concept used for mass transit before.

[Oswegowind 17]

Careful posting stuff like that...I could see some Yonkers peeps trying to get one! LOL

[Guest]

I guess everything old is new again. MACK made a Rail Bus. NYNH&H had some. Two were purchased byRemington Arms, who converted one from carrying passengers, to runing products on the rails within their facility. It is currently at the railway museam in Danbury. It is a 1954 model FDCII. They were alot like busses but ran only on rails. I like the concept of this and hope it works out well and catches on here in the states. There is more info on this paticular Railbus on the Danbury Railway Museam website. www.danbury.org/drm .

Edited May 20, 2007 by car11