Comments on: trains that pick you up without stopping

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:47:39 +0000

I suppose dropping off a pod could start at any point before the station, so it could have ample time to slow down. Picking up a pod, however, is an entirely different story. It would be accelerated from 0 to the speed of the main train almost instantaneously. The strains on everything, including the passengers would be tremendous. Hopefully, the people would have recovered by the time they reached their destination. Then there is the fact that, as demonstrated, a person could only go from station A to station B. Going to station C would require getting off and back on at station B. After a couple of those stops and starts, I think one would have to be carried out of the pod. I think I understand why the officials appear a bit skeptical.

By: Eric Dolan

Eric Dolan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:21:48 +0000

I can see some problems: Handicap accessibility, The 2 transfer cars would have to be independently powered. It looks as if each station would have 2 transfer cars, and each station would require a lot of additonal elevated rail for each transfer car to match the train speed. However, this is what is needed to compete with air travel and airports.

By: LC

LC — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:56:52 +0000

READYdot…The train wouldn’t have to be in a straight line the whole time, just when passing through a station. And aren’t most train stations located on straight stretches of track anyway?

By: Carolyn Gillis

Carolyn Gillis — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:00:33 +0000

Ken. The train on the bottom would not have to be empty as I see it. It could be the people who are traveling the longer distances. Upper cabs would be for people going shorter distances. Also I suppose a well designed one of these could allow people to climb up and down from different level cabs once they are going safely…like we go from cab to cab in other trains. I think this is so cool..hope we get some on the East coast. I visited Singapore a couple of times..great place in many ways..tough in other ways. USA has our own problems needless to say.
I can imagine adaptations to let these go around curves. They would be straight where they need to engage probably though.

By: Ross

Ross — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 01:40:25 +0000

I think the issue is that the people move from the top access vehicle to the bottom long-distance vehicle until they are ready to depart. However, the top vehicle and bottom vehicle would have to separate at each station. I think you wouldn’t want to be in the middle between them when the separation occurred, otherwise only part of you would be left at the station. (sigh)

By: Ken

Ken — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:11:49 +0000

Um, what is the use of the empty train below the thing that fetch people? I think this concept is still unclear and can’t implemented as a real services of next generation trains…

By: READYdot

READYdot — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:38:49 +0000

This will only work with a train that runs only in a straight line. Don´t see this train with the rails on the top making curves…

By: Sasha

Sasha — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:45:44 +0000

Coolest. Train. Ever. I want one!

I’m guessing it will be a while before MUNI/BART/futuristic high-speed California rail gets this, huh?