PCC8 BRINGS ATN CLOSER TO PUBLIC TRANSIT

The 8th Podcar City conference just held near Stockholm's Arlanda Airport brought the 50 year old concept of PRT several steps closer to the reality of urban public transport. Small in size but rich in dialog, the discussions included a peek at the Assessment of the Automated Transit Network Industry soon to be released by San Jose University's Mineta Transportation Institute. One major conclusion is that the ability to deliver a 10-station network is within reach and that urban planners and transit officials can advance such plans with technological confidence.

ATN can strengthen conventional rail transit.

Ingmar Andreasson of LogistikCentrum presented results of sophisticated analysis of ways that ATN capacity can be increased to levels comparable to rail modes by coupling vehicles, using larger vehicles and allowing trips to be scheduled to multiple destinations. Bengt Gustafsson described strategies to gradually introduce ATN in ways that reduce risks.

Suppliers Vectus and Ultra reported on their growing experience with ATN operations in South Korea and at London;s Heathrow Airport. China's Tubenet presented their previously unknown concept that uses small vehicles running under guiderails and solar collectors and plans for a 4km, 12-station test line to be running in three years. Simulation of a 446km network for Xian (population 4 million) has been done. Given China's growing economic might, Tubenet introduces a new dynamic into world ATN developments.

The PCC8 program for the first included a debate of candidates from four parties vying for votes in this weeks elections in Sweden. All agreed that a pilot ATN project linking Arlanda Airport to five growth nodes planned nearby.