Non stop trains?

[ozbob]

Non-stop train travel gathers speed

Continuously moving trains that allow passengers to get on and off via connecting rail shuttles, could be the future of fast, affordable and climate-friendly transport, a Queensland University of Technology researcher has predicted.

Lara Brunello, from QUT's School of Urban Development, is investigating the viability of trains that don't stop, as an alternative to high-speed rail, road and air travel, as part of her PhD studies.

"This isn't out of reach. The engineering technology is rapidly developing and trains could connect while in motion very soon," she said.

Ms Brunello said the idea of connecting trains was that the main train maintains a continuous speed and people access stations by embarking and disembarking the train via rail shuttles which connect and disconnect from the main carriages during the journey.

"While connecting trains won't travel as fast as high-speed trains, over a longer distance travelling times could be comparable, if not quicker," she said.

"Every stop made by high-speed trains, accounts for a significant loss in time because of the delays in accelerating and decelerating to and from maximum speed."

Ms Brunello said modern societies needed to develop speed competitive transport systems that didn't add to congestion, accidents, pollution or increase energy consumption.

"Railways have great potential to transport people and freight goods over long distances economically and quickly," she said.

"A massive shift toward an environmentally sound type of transport is crucial and railways are deemed to be one of the most sustainable modes.

"We know the increased use of vehicles and air travel is the primary cause of growth in transport emissions."

As part of her study, Ms Brunello will compare the economic, social and environmental costs of connecting trains against high-speed rail.

More ....  --> QUT Media Release

[ozbob]

This is a very interesting study.  Slip coaches were used in the UK for quite a while  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_coach)

Be interesting to see how it progresses.

Regards
Ozbob