Dual-mode vehicle: half train, half bus
A dual-mode vehicle (DMV) that looks like a minibus and runs both on conventional railway tracks and paved roads was tested on the Gakunan railway in Fuji city (Shizuoka prefecture) on the night of November 24. The 28-passenger test vehicle was developed by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) in a project that began in 2000.
Technicians aboard the DMV evaluated the safety and ride quality during the series of tests on rail and road. After the 3-km railway portion of the test course, the vehicle stopped at a railroad crossing, retracted the railroad wheels and switched to street mode in a mere 10 seconds.
A number of local governments around Japan have shown interest in introducing DMVs because they are inexpensive to manufacture and run. In addition, DMVs conveniently allow passengers to travel from train stations to their final destinations without having to transfer vehicles. DMVs appear to be particularly attractive in rural areas with limited public transportation because they allow railways to offer more versatile and efficient services.
In April 2007, JR Hokkaido will begin operating DMVs along part of the Kushiro line in eastern Hokkaido.
[Source: Nikkei Net]
[…] -Pink Tentacle writes about Dual-mode vehicles, Bus/Train hybrids that will make public transportation in the countryside a lot easier. […]
[…] In April 2007, JR Hokkaido will begin operating DMVs along part of the Kushiro line in eastern Hokkaido. Source Share and Enjoy:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
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[…] The Hokkaido Railway Company is expected to start using them by April 2007 along part of the Kushiro line in eastern Hokkaido. A number of local governments around Japan have also expressed some interest in the DMV. […]
[…] A dual-mode vehicle (DMV) has begun service on JR’s Kushiro line in Hokkaido. The vehicle, which is able to travel on both roads and railroad tracks, is ideal for rural areas such as northern Hokkaido, where it may be too expensive for rail companies to use conventional trains. As shown by the above news report, the passengers enjoyed their ride on the DMV, taking pictures and video along the way. Even the Japanese-speaking white guy was impressed, telling the camera that the change between road and rail was very fast and smooth. […]
[…] Another Japanese site is www.pinktentacle.com/2006/11/dual-mode-vehicle-half-train-half-bus […]