This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
The ULTra Personal Rapid Transit System
Technical Paper
2002-01-0174
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The ULTra (Urban Light Transport) PRT system offers an alternative to the automobile. It is a new form of public transport which, in contrast to all other types, is available on demand, and goes non-stop to any station on its own guideway network. ULTra also offers massive gains in energy, emissions and resource usage compared to all existing forms of transport, both private and public. ULTra can thus bring improved quality of life for both the user and the non-user of the system. A variety of studies have shown that the system can be implemented at a capital cost which approaches one third of conventional light rail. Studies suggest that the whole cost of mature systems can be recovered from the fare box.
The prototype ULTra system is now undergoing test on a 1 km track in Cardiff Wales, where it is projected that the first passenger carrying system can come into service in 2004.
Citation
Lowson, M., "The ULTra Personal Rapid Transit System," SAE Technical Paper 2002-01-0174, 2002, https://doi.org/10.4271/2002-01-0174.Also In
Foresight Vehicle Technology: Consumer Driven Design, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Purchasing
Number: SP-1694; Published: 2002-03-04
Number: SP-1694; Published: 2002-03-04
References
- ACEC 1976 “Passenger transport: short and medium term considerations” Advisory Council on Energy Conservation Paper 2 Dept of Energy HMSO
- APTA 2001 Public Transit Fact Book 2000
- Brown, L.R. Flavin, C. French, H. 2001 “State of the World 2001” The Worldwatch Institute Norton and Company
- Coffey, R. Lowson, M.V. 1996 “A comparative analysis of energy consumption and emission of urban transport systems” “Urban Transport and the Environment II” Baldasano Recio Sucharov Computational Mechanics Publications
- Davis S.C. 2001 “Transportation Energy Data Book: Edition 21” Oak Ridge National Laboratory ORNL-6966 October 2001
- Fabian, L.R. 1999 “APMs at the Millennium” ASCE APM Conference Copenhagen Jun 1999 iii x
- Government Statistical Service 2000 “Transport Statistics Great Britain” HMSO
- Government Statistical Service 1997 “Journey Times Survey 1996 Inner and Central London” The Stationery Office
- Hamilton, W.F. Nance, D.K. 1969 “Systems analysis of urban transportation” Scientific American 221 1 19 27
- Kunzli Nino et al 2000 “Public Health related impact of outdoor and traffic related air pollution European assessment Lancet 2 Sep 2000 795 801
- Lowson M.V. Medus, C.E. 1997 “Initial Safety Considerations for an Advanced Transport System” “Safe Systems” Anderson Redmill Springer Verlag
- Lowson M.V. 1997 “Combined study of Modal Split and Economics for an ULTRA System” ATG Working Paper 97-9 University of Bristol December 1997
- Medus, C.E. Lowson, M.V. 1999 “Planning PRT Networks: The Case of ULTRA” ASCE APM Conference Copenhagen Jun 1999 256 261
- Pucher, J. Lefèvre, C. 1996 “The Urban Transport Crisis in Europe and North America” Macmillan
- Ross, M. 1994 “Automobile fuel consumption and emissions: Effects of vehicle and driving characteristics” Annu Rev Energy Environ. 19 75 112