Difference between revisions of "Low Energy Trains"
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| − | Existing | + | Existing trains are heavy and passengers are forced to follow the schedule. To combine the advantages of individual transportation such as cars with the energy efficiency of the low friction of tracks, a low-energy train will be the most useful means of transport for mid-range distances and in cities.<br> |
| − | The low energy train is actually not a train with an engine and coaches. Each coach has its own | + | The low-energy train is actually not a train with an engine and coaches. Each coach has its own electric engine and can carry up to 8 people. These vehicles can drive independently of each other but will mainly build interconnection with others to reduce aerodynamic drag. In each station some of these vehicles will be waiting for passengers; each vehicle will have a designated destination, which will be determined by the passengers. The first passenger will fix the destination and the following passengers who also want to be transported to the same destination or in the direction of this destination will fill the places. As soon as it is full or the waiting time for the first passenger reaches about 5 minutes the vehicle starts. In parallel other vehicles from other stations before that station will pass by in drags, because each of these vehicles has the same power and the complete drag is as faster as more vehicles are combined because the drag has a much lower aerodynamic resistance then the individual vehicles. So the natural way to travel long distances is to have a large number of individual vehicles combined in drags.<br> |
| − | The weight of such a vehicle is | + | The weight of such a vehicle is no more than one of today's minibuses, because it is not necessary for an individual vehicle to pull or decelerate the complete drag. Also the passenger seats will look more like the seats in small aeroplanes or minibuses, to minimize the parasitic weight, which is needed if space for walking and standing are there.<br> |
The drag itself need not to stop at each station because only the vehicles with destination of a passing station are sorted out by high speed steeps inside the track, so that the overall travelling time is much smaller then of actual trains which stops at nearly each intermediate station. The maximum speed of such a drag can reach up to 200 km/h whereas the individual verhicle can only reach 100 km/h if it is alone. If a vehicle has to decelerate it will use its engine as a dynamo which generate electrical power for the other vehicles.<br> | The drag itself need not to stop at each station because only the vehicles with destination of a passing station are sorted out by high speed steeps inside the track, so that the overall travelling time is much smaller then of actual trains which stops at nearly each intermediate station. The maximum speed of such a drag can reach up to 200 km/h whereas the individual verhicle can only reach 100 km/h if it is alone. If a vehicle has to decelerate it will use its engine as a dynamo which generate electrical power for the other vehicles.<br> | ||
Goods are also transported with this system via far distances. The vehicles for transportation of goods are having the same size and power then the one for passengers, only the loading space will look different to be optimized for boxes. The distances for goods can be much higher then these for passengers, because goods can be transported many days without stopping.<br> | Goods are also transported with this system via far distances. The vehicles for transportation of goods are having the same size and power then the one for passengers, only the loading space will look different to be optimized for boxes. The distances for goods can be much higher then these for passengers, because goods can be transported many days without stopping.<br> | ||
Revision as of 16:24, 27 September 2008
Existing trains are heavy and passengers are forced to follow the schedule. To combine the advantages of individual transportation such as cars with the energy efficiency of the low friction of tracks, a low-energy train will be the most useful means of transport for mid-range distances and in cities.
The low-energy train is actually not a train with an engine and coaches. Each coach has its own electric engine and can carry up to 8 people. These vehicles can drive independently of each other but will mainly build interconnection with others to reduce aerodynamic drag. In each station some of these vehicles will be waiting for passengers; each vehicle will have a designated destination, which will be determined by the passengers. The first passenger will fix the destination and the following passengers who also want to be transported to the same destination or in the direction of this destination will fill the places. As soon as it is full or the waiting time for the first passenger reaches about 5 minutes the vehicle starts. In parallel other vehicles from other stations before that station will pass by in drags, because each of these vehicles has the same power and the complete drag is as faster as more vehicles are combined because the drag has a much lower aerodynamic resistance then the individual vehicles. So the natural way to travel long distances is to have a large number of individual vehicles combined in drags.
The weight of such a vehicle is no more than one of today's minibuses, because it is not necessary for an individual vehicle to pull or decelerate the complete drag. Also the passenger seats will look more like the seats in small aeroplanes or minibuses, to minimize the parasitic weight, which is needed if space for walking and standing are there.
The drag itself need not to stop at each station because only the vehicles with destination of a passing station are sorted out by high speed steeps inside the track, so that the overall travelling time is much smaller then of actual trains which stops at nearly each intermediate station. The maximum speed of such a drag can reach up to 200 km/h whereas the individual verhicle can only reach 100 km/h if it is alone. If a vehicle has to decelerate it will use its engine as a dynamo which generate electrical power for the other vehicles.
Goods are also transported with this system via far distances. The vehicles for transportation of goods are having the same size and power then the one for passengers, only the loading space will look different to be optimized for boxes. The distances for goods can be much higher then these for passengers, because goods can be transported many days without stopping.
The loading and unloading of goods will be controlled by computers to conduct a fast and automated way, like in a packing station today.
The transportation of goods from the station to the final destination will be done by Bio Fuel Driven Lorries. The passenger will reach the station by their private owned Pedelecs if they are living in rural areas. In cities the public transport as it is actual done are used for the transportation from the train station to the final destination.
The speed, the steeps, and the allocation of vehicles will be controlled by computers. Each vehicle has its own computer in it which is networked with the other vehicles on the same track and the computers in the stations. These computers will also take care about the coupling and uncoupling of tracks, when a standing vehicle on a side track is allowed to enter the main track and when a drag is allowed to cross other tracks. To increase the safety independent sensor systems are able to stop vehicles or reduce their speed if these sensors indicate an approach at too high speed or an occupied main track for vehicles which like to enter the main track.
The need for the passenger is only to enter the vehicle and enter the destination in the integrated terminal, either with ID cards, which contains the actual destination or typing in the destination. For long distances it might be necessary that passengers need to change the vehicle at branch stations but this is then indicated to the passenger during his travel by the terminal. The waiting time at each station is limited to 5 minutes, anyhow.
