Description
Using a combination of well known and proven technologies, a highly cost-effective and innovative solution to ultra high-speed passenger
train transportation is presented. The proposed Monorail Air Cushion (MAC)
system uses lightweight vehicles built with aircraft technologies, propelled
via electric linear motors, riding on wheels at low speed and on an air cushion
at high speed, straddling a modular elevated monorail track. When compared to
existing conventional high-speed trains, this concept would lower the cost of
infrastructure and equipment, and decrease the time to build a transportation
network by more than an order of magnitude.
Innovation
The proposed train system uses a combination of four well-proven technologies, not currently used together in train transportation:
- Aircraft technology used to manufacture the lightweight
vehicles
- Hybrid wheel and speed-assisted air cushion vehicle suspension
- Vehicle electric linear motor propulsion
- Elevated prefabricated, lightweight monorail tracks
Manufacturability
The proposed train system uses existing technologies and does not require any new invention:
- The cars can be manufactured using aircraft technologies.
Aircraft manufacturers will have an opportunity to use their know-how to extend
their product line offerings to ultra high-speed train production.
- Today, air cushion suspension is widely used in
civilian and military hovercraft. Forty years ago, the French Aérotrain air
cushion suspension was successfully demonstrated.
- Electric linear motors are widely used in many
industries and in Maglev trains.
- Monorail tracks can made of either steel, aluminum, or hybrid
prefabricated pre-stressed concrete and aluminum, supported on pre-fabricated
concrete columns.
Marketability
The whole world has an urgent need for ultra high-speed trains. It is expected that aircraft manufacturing demand will be affected in
the near future by the cost and the availability of fossil fuels. Electric
trains are highly efficient and can be easily powered by renewable energy
sources. Highly resilient,
decentralized solar energy produced by solar farms situated along the track
will offer minimum transmission losses.
The lower costs, safety and low complexity of the entire system make it extremely appealing even to developing countries. Since elevated
tracks do not block ground traffic and present a minimal footprint, this mode
of transportation has a much lower impact on the environment than any other mode
of transportation. The elevated track is nearly impervious to ground level
disturbances: animals or people intrusion, flooding, landslides, snowdrifts,
freezing rain, etc.
Cost-effectiveness
Historically, governments have invested billions of US dollars in high-speed train systems. The proposed concept reduces the cost of such
systems to levels that are appealing to private investment. The implementation
technique will allow developing a transportation network within an
unprecedented short time span, ensuring a faster return on investment.
Conclusion
The proposed MAC ultra high-speed train concept offers a revolutionary mode of ground transportation, which can leapfrog the existing
designs, while offering much lower prices and faster implementation. This
concept should be studied and validated through a thorough economic analysis
that will take into account the long-term costs and benefits to society.