Coaster Automated Transport System

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Introduction

Coaster Automated Transport System

The Coaster is a European project from Coaster GmbH for an automated transportation passenger system. Each Coaster vehicle carries 6 to 10 people and runs on a track similar to a roller coaster. The vehicles are batter powered, with recharging at the stations. The Coaster does not run to a timetable, but instead vehicles are computer scheduled at customer request.

The first production Coaster opened in the Swiss ski resort of Arosa in December 2006. There is little information in English about the Coaster. The German Wikipedia quotes the Coster as having a capacity of 3000 passenger journeys per hour and a top speed of approximately 80 km/h.

Coaster vehicle technical specifications

Coaster vehicle technical specifications (from BRUSA Elektronik AG)
Total WeightBattery VoltageControllerGearboxBattery ChargerAuxiliaries
max. 2500 kg300 V; ZEBRA2 x DMC4202 x ASM810DCDC on-board; SpecialTrafo in Station; DC-Bus by bus barsBNW425 BCM200

Personal rapid transit

Bishop Austrans Limited

The Coaster is similar to a number of other personal transportation system proposals, such as the Australian Bishop Austrans system. Unlike the Austrans system, which is powered from the rails, the Coaster relies on batteries. This allows lower cost track to be built more rapidly, but at a higher maintenance cost.

Photograph of the ULTra test track (From Wikipedia)

Personal rapid transit (PRT), also called personal automated transport (PAT), is a category of proposed public transportation systems designed to offer automated on-demand non-stop transportation, usually targeted at urban use, on a network of specially-built guideways.

Originating in the mid 1960s, the design concepts and engineering challenges of PRT are well understood. Elements of PRT design have influenced the design of some existing people mover systems, and many fully automated mass transit systems exist. However, as of 2006, questions still remain concerning production and operational costs, safety, aesthetics, and public acceptance of PRT, since there are no completed installations.

From: Personal rapid transit, Wikipedia, 2007

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