Filed under: Transportation Alternatives
Blade Runner concept combines a bus with a train
Click above for more pics of the Blade Runner concept
Mass transit is a concept that holds significant promise in the U.S. as it is currently very under-utilized. Train travel has become more popular now that the price of gas has rocketed upwards, but rails only go in certain directions and there isn't always a solid route to your chosen destination. The highway system in this country, on the other hand, is huge and connects every major city in the country with each other (well, except Honolulu). So, what if you could combine the passenger-carrying abilities of the train with the abundant routes of the bus? That's exactly what a British company called Silvertip Design has envisioned with its Blade Runner concept. The machine carries two sets of wheels, one appropriate for highway driving and the other set up for rails. By using railways when possible, traffic wouldn't be a problem, and when the route needs to take a different direction, highways can be used to get to the proper set of tracks. Like modern trains, a diesel engine would power a generator, providing electric power to the wheels.
Gallery: Blade Runner concept
[Source: Indian Autos Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
brandon 7:48PM (9/29/2008)
FYI that will never work in the US. Part of the reason why Amtrak sucks is because they rent the rails, which makes them late, because the rails are often overbooked and have to wait for freight trains.
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Mika Huhtanen 8:56AM (9/30/2008)
Beautiful consept, even the model is nice! Something like this is might be needed to solve public transit fluently. If it gets green light, hopefully something is done with tracks as well.. Good thinking! We want more! We want more!
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paulwesterberg 10:30AM (9/30/2008)
Not all trains are diesel, in Europe where they have train stations all over the place and they use mostly electric trains which helps save weight because you dont need to lug fuel around. Amsterdam already has a system of electric trams that drive on rails in the street.
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wildgoosechase 1:24PM (9/30/2008)
A better application would be for freight. We could get more trucks off the freeways and onto tracks for at least part of the journey. Less traffic for cars, less wear and tear on the freeways and safer freeways. Truckers would then run more efficiently by not dealing with on ramps. It's a win win.
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Julius 3:12PM (9/30/2008)
wildgoosechase...
They already do that - it's called intermodal freight. The containers are lifted off the trailers and put on rail cars.
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