Author(s)

W Czyczula

Abstract

Transport technology with a use of the super- light rail vehicles W. Czyczula Department of Civil Engineering, Institute of Road and Railway Engineering, Krakow University of Technology, Poland. Abstract The paper presents the concept of transport technology with a use of the super- light rail vehicles. Mechanical and service parameters of these vehicles are determined. In the structure of the vehicles many typical road car elements are used. Firstly, in 1995, the model of the vehicle as an adaptation of two typical road microbuses were developed. In the second step the prototype of the super- light vehicle has been established. This vehicle is passenger and environment friendly. Energy consumption is two-time less than in the typical tram. Due to weight the degradation of the rail infrastructure is decreased. Non-conventional control system, as well as traffic safety problems, have been analysed. 1 Introduction In Poland and other south and east European countries the railway traffic decreases significantly. Traffic density on many regional and suburban lines is very small. Also on the certain tramway lines passenger streams are very small. Detail analysis shows that - in many cases - application of the typical light vehicles is ineffective and need a high financial support. There are two solutions: a) closing the line; b) non-conventional use of the existing line. If a non-conventional solution is also ineffective, than closing the line is argumented. In special cases (historical, military reason) very ineffective transportation systems are in service. These unique cases will be not considered.

Keywords