High capacity personal rapid transit system developments

High capacity personal rapid transit (HCPRT) is a system concept which utilizes small, 4 to 6 passenger, vehicles at very short headways on exclusive guideway networks. The automatic operation of small vehicles at headways of 1 s or less presents a major technical problem which is amenable to a combination of design approaches. This paper explores the effect of basic parameters such as vehicle length, reaction time, emergency and failed vehicle deceleration rates, and emergency jerk rate on potential minimum operating headway. The results of this analysis are then discussed in the context of five HCPRT programs.