PERSONAL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION FOR THE FUTURE

Gaurav Agarwal
Director(Efficiency & Research) ME
This article is a brief introduction to Personal Rapid Transit System, which are operational or planned in various parts of the world. Personal Rapid Transit system has certain advantages over the conventional transport systems which are also indicated. Personal Rapid Transit system can also be used as a supplement to mass transport system, to provide a point to point destination solution for urban/sub-urban sectors.

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND NEED FOR PRT

In the area of Passenger transportation sector, basically two distinct streams have developed: a) Mass Transport system such as trains, buses, air planes etc b) Personal Transit System such as cars, 2 wheelers etc &

In a Mass Transport System such as Indian Railways, people move in large groups (masses) over scheduled routes. Despite various advantages, Mass Transit System has certain limitations such as waiting time for the train arrival, change of road/rail vehicles to reach the final destination, scheduled stopping at intermediate stations etc. On the other hand, conventional cars and two wheelers, are subject to other limitations such as necessity of a skilled driver with route map knowledge, traffic congestion, speed limitations etc. As our society is aiming at greater efficiency, speed and productivity, and the constraints of time and space are being conquered in all aspects of our lives, a new stream in the field of transportation sector - Personal Rapid Transit (PRT), which combines the benefit of the above two streams is shaping to be a transportation solution of the future. 2.0 WHAT IS PERSONAL RAPID TRANSIT (PRT) SYSTEM ? Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) is a public transportation mode featuring small driverless vehicles which operate on a network of dedicated guide ways. The guideways can be either supported type or suspended type. The mode provides automated direct trips from starting point to destination thereby eliminating the time wastages in waiting, stoppages etc. This mode provides clean, green, efficient and sustainable transportation. Advanced Transit Association (ATRA) has defined Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) as Direct origin-to-destination service with no stops, using small fully automatic vehicles on a dedicated guideway which can be available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The oldest PRT in the world at West Virginia University, Morgantown, US

2gettheres PRT at Masdar City, UAE

A PRT system can also be used for freight transportation. The low weight of PRT's small vehicles allows light rail support structures than mass transit, which also translates into lower construction cost.

2getthere freight vehicle

Suspended type Pod Cars

3.0 Types of PRT Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems usually operate on guideways, which can be on the ground, elevated or underground in tunnels. There are three basic types of PRT systems: 1. Open guideway: These usually have rubber tyres and are battery operated. They steer themselves on a flat surface that may or may not have side walls. Some follow embedded magnets, while others sense their position relative to side walls using lasers. Examples include ULTra and 2getthere. 2. Captive bogey: In these systems, the wheels (bogey) are held captive inside the guideway. Wheels run alongside metallic rails, and the guideway essentially steers the vehicle. These systems are commonly powered by linear induction motors that are also used for braking. Examples include Vectus and Skyweb Express. 3. Suspended: As its name implies, this type of system utilizes T-Pods hanging from a guideway. Examples include J-Pods, SkyTran and MISTER.

The variety of system characteristics enables some PRT systems to be more suited to a particular application than others. 4.0 SALIENT FEATURES OF PERSONAL RAPID TRANSIT In PRT designs, vehicles are sized for small group travel, generally carrying 2 to 6 passengers per vehicle. Vehicle movement is coordinated, unlike the individual human controlled movement in case of automobiles and bikes. PRT provides quicker transportation than cars during rush hour, since being automated vehicles, they do not undergo unnecessary slowing. Vehicles are individually hired, like taxis, and shared only with the passengers of one's choice. Guide ways are arranged in a network topology much like a network of streets with stations located on sides like bus stand or a taxi stand. It allows fast, non-stop, point-to-point congestion-free transport, bypassing all intermediate stations without traffic hindrance.

Simplified depiction of a possible PRT network

Illustration of a station with loop line

Passengers board and get off analogous to bus stops or taxi stands. Operational timings can be flexible depending on potential for demand and supply. Waiting time depends on demand and supply of vehicles and otherwise it takes very short time in arrival of vehicle. After start, there is no stoppage en-route. Operating costs as low as crew is not required. Traffic signals to start, slow or stop the vehicles are not required. Unit passenger cost on infrastructure such as vehicles and guideways etc are much less compared to other transit modes. Throughput can be much more compared to Mass Rapid System or cars, as vehicles being automated can actually travel separated by just a few inches. Uninterrupted flow is the key to capacity, not vehicle size. To reduce drag and increase speed, energy efficiency and passenger density, possibilities include dynamically combined "trains" of vehicles. Efficient use of land as generally PRT system is constructed off-grade i.e. elevated.

Both air and noise pollution is minimal especially near the passenger interface. Vehicles are automated, electric and quiet. Fully automated, including vehicle control, routing, and collection of fares analogous to Metro trains.

French National Research Agency (Inria) PRT

Postech PRT control room, South Korea

5.0 EXISTING PRT NETWORKS Currently, three PRT networks are operational world-wide, and several more are in the planning stage. All these three networks are having vehicles with rotary motors propulsion system and follow concrete guideway. Com miss ionin g Year 1975 No. of Station s/ vehicle s 5 / 73

Location

Syst em

Guide way 13.2 km, Electric pickups

Remarks The oldest and only commercially operated PRT in the world. Capacity: 20 (8 seated plus 12 standing) per vehicle, No. of vehicles is regulated during low usage periods. Currently a pilot system. As per initial plans, automobiles are to be banned, with PRT as the only powered intra-city transport (along with an inter-city light rail line). Seating capacity: 6 Currently a pilot system, connecting Terminal 5 with a long-term car park. If found successful, it shall be extended throughout the airport. Seating capacity: 4

Morganto WVU wn, West PRT Virginia University, US

Masdar 2gett City, Abu here Dhabi, UAE

2011

1.5 km, Magnet s in paveme nts

5 / 13

London Heathrow Airport, England

ULTr a

2011

3.8 km, Laser range

3 / 21

5.1 Morgantown West Virginia University PRT in US

It is the oldest and only commercially operated PRT in the world. This PRT system introduced in 1975 includes 73 vehicles resembling miniature buses. Each vehicle is 4.72 m long, 2.03 m wide and 2.67 m high and weighs 3.97 Ton. Each vehicle has automatic doors on both sides which are handicappedaccessible. Each vehicle has seating capacity for eight and standing space for twelve leading to net capacity of twenty passengers. The vehicles are powered by three-phase 575-volt AC rectified to drive a 70 HP (52 kW) DC motor that allows them to reach 50 km/h. Electric pickups are fixed on both sides of each vehicle, which connect to electrified rails on one, or both, sides of the guideway. The vehicles' wheels steer slightly toward whichever side is powered, so the vehicles stay in firm electrical contact with the rails. Each vehicle has four-wheel steering to help negotiate the tight turns in the PRT trackways, especially near stations. Although there is some disagreement whether Morgantown system fits into the role of a "true" PRT system or not and is sometimes considered as a quasi-PRT system, as it lacks some PRT features such as 100% on-demand service. No. of vehicles is regulated during low usage periods.

5.2 ULTra PRT at Heathrow Airport, London

ULTra station at Heathrow, UK

Bi-directional guideway at Heathrow Airport, London

The ULTra (Urban Light Transport) system at Heathrow Airport, London built by Advanced Transport Systems (A UK company), is an innovative form of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) consists of small, lightweight, computer-driven electric vehicles powered by lead-acid batteries. ULTra vehicles with rubber wheels have seating capacity of 4 passengers move along slender, special-purpose concrete guideways and guided by laser range finders.

Currently, it is a pilot system, connecting Terminal 5 with a long-term car park. If found successful, it shall be extended throughout the airport.

5.3 2getthere PRT at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi

For Masdar City, UAE PRT a Dutch company called 2getthere has developed vehicles powered by more-advanced batteries made of lithium iron phosphate. The vehicles (pods) with rubber wheels have seating capacity of 6 passengers and travel on pavement equipped with embedded magnets placed every five meters, along with sensors for measuring wheel angles and speed, to determine the location of the vehicle. When a person selects a destination, a central computer designates a path for the vehicle, and an on-board computer makes sure the car sticks to the path. Currently, it is a pilot system. As per initial plans, automobiles are to be banned, with PRT as the only powered intra-city transport (along with an inter-city light rail line).

6.0 PLANNED PRT NETWORKS

Following are a few upcoming well-known PRT models: Guide Seating way capacity (per vehicle) Systems for which the full prototype is ready Vectus PRT South Yes 4 steel (POSCO) Korea System Locatio n Activ e Cabinentaxi CVS German y Japan no No No No 3,12,18 4 4 40 steel steel steel concret e Suspended / supported Propulsion

PRT2000 US (Raytheon) Monocab/ROM US AG (Rohr, Inc.) Shweeb

SupportedCaptive Bogey both, solid rubber wheels supported, rubber wheels supported both, rubber wheels (Monocab), maglev (ROMAG) Suspended

linear motors linear motors rotary motors rotary motors rotary motor (Monocab), linear motor (ROMAG)

Rotorua yes 1 Steel Human power, , New bicycle Zealand Systems which are either in partial prototype stage or in concept stage MISTER Poland Yes 5 steel suspended rotary motors Skytran US No 2 steel suspended, linear motors magnetic levitation Skyweb Minneso Yes 3 steel Supportedlinear motors Express ta Captive

(Taxi2000) JPods Launchpoint Technologies SPM Maglev Skycab AB Skycab Interstate Traveller BM Design / BM One

US US Sweden US Finland

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

4 3

steel steel round pipe

Bogey suspended supported supported supported supported

rotary motors rotary motors + track assistance on climbs

7.0 COST COMPARISON (PRT vs OTHER MODES) #

As the existing network of PRT in entire world spread over 3 countries is less than 20 kms and other PRT systems are in nascent stage, it would be too primitive to assess the inter-alia costs of PRT systems and also w.r.t. other systems. As such, data related to costs have been reproduced as such from the studies done in US by a leading global management consulting firm, helping the world's top businesses, governments, and other institutions. 7.1 CAPITAL COST PER MILE ($M) Mode Metro Rail Light Rail APM-Urban APM-Airport BRT Busway BRT Tunnel PRT One Way PRT Two Way
Abbreviations Used:

Min. Cost 110 25 30 49 7 200 15 25

Average Cost 200 50-70 100-120 100-150 14-25 250 20-35 30-50

Max. Cost 2,000 195 145 237 50 300 50 75

APM-Automated People Mover, BRT-Bus Rapid Transit #Source: Booz Allen Hamilton taken from www.prtconsulting.com/presentations.html

7.2 OPERATING COST PER PASSENGER

Abbreviations Used: LRT Light Rail Transit #Source: Booz Allen Hamilton taken from www.prtconsulting.com/presentations.html

8.0 CAPACITY COMPARISON On the lines of data of cost comparisons, capacity comparisons of PRT systems w.r.t. other systems have been reproduced as such from the outcome of joint study done in US by two leading global transport consultancy sources.

#Sources: 1. TCRP Transit Capacity & Quality of Service Manual-2nd Edition 2. PRT Consulting Inc. (PRT speeds & capacities only) taken from www.prtconsulting.com/presentations.html

9.0 INFRASTRUCTURE : TICKETING, MAINTENANCE ETC.

Destination selection ticket Kiosk at Heathrow.

Maintenance facilities at Heathrow.

At each station, there are several conveniently located ticket machines and a map of the system. The group of passengers who want to ride together, determine their destination number from the map and go to the ticket machine to punch in the destination. The machine verifies the destination and displays the fare, which may be paid by cash or by prepaid ticket and is per vehicle rather than per person. The machine then dispenses a magnetically coded ticket. If the passenger is regularly going between a certain station pair, he/she can purchase a pass in advance. The passenger(s) takes the ticket to a stanchion in front of the first empty vehicle in a line of vehicles and inserts it into a slot. This act transfers the memory of the destination to a microprocessor aboard the vehicle, causes the door to open. After entering, the passenger sits down and presses a go-button, whereupon the door closes automatically, the control system waits for an opening in the traffic bypassing the station and commands the vehicle to accelerate to line speed. When the vehicle reaches the destination station, it pulls into a berthed slot and opens the door automatically for passenger to exit. There are proper maintenance facilities for vehicles, guideways, corridors. 10.0 MAIN APPLICATION AREAS To begin with in a country like India, PRT can be used in (a) Airports, (b) Tourist attraction points, (c) University and hospital campuses, (d) Industrial business parks, (e)Shopping parks and malls, (f) Metro city developments (g) Extension of existing modes. Hence, there is no doubt that PRT is the future of Transportation sector in India and the rest of the world. It is now upto us how best to embrace the inevitable.

11.0 References 1. http://www.prtconsulting.com/content.html : How to get into PRT 2. http://busnews.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html : The Podcar * UAE - A Cross Between a Taxi and a Personal Bus 3. http://www.acprt.org/PRTFaqs.cfm#9 : Austin Citizens for Personal Rapid Transit 4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_rapid_transi : WikipediaPersonal rapid transit 5. TCRP Transit Capacity & Quality of Service Manual-2nd Edition 6. www.taxi2000.com : Skyweb Express 7. www.skytran.net/phpsite/home/home.html Transportation : Skytran- 21st Century