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Europe finds a new way to run rail crossings
Europe is developing a new control system to increase the flow of road traffic passing through automatic railway crossings.
The idea is to enable trains themselves to activate the automatic barriers so that no matter at what speed the train is travelling, road traffic will get to use the crossing for as long as is safely possible. Initial tests on Austria's Linzer Localbaan (LiLo) rail service are said to have proved successful and the developer - the European Space Agency - is hoping the system can eventually be introduced to all EU rail systems.
Currently most European countries use ALX systems - automatic level crossings geared to closing barriers immediately sensors detect that an approaching train has passed a certain point along the track.
The drawback with ALX is that the sensors make no allowances for the speed at which the train is travelling. With ALX, barriers are closed on the assumption that the approaching train is a high-speed express - even though it may only be a slow, all-stations commuter train.
To answer the problem, the Space Agency is developing a new system that uses a computer control fitted aboard the train itself to close and open the barriers.
The computer system closes the barrier after calculating the train's precise speed, its precise position on the track, and the precise moment it is going to pass over the crossing.
To work out the train's position so accurately the computer draws on signals from a combination of navigation satellites including American GPS, Russia's GLONASS, and Europe's EGNOS.
The agency says the advantages of a satellite control system is that it reduces the cost of track-side equipment and cabling, increases road traffic flow and reduces vehicle emission by virtue of the fact that cars and trucks will spend less time waiting.
But there is still some way to go before the new system becomes operational. Ultimately any production version is expected to await Europe's Galileo navigational satellite network due to become operational at the end of the decade.
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New life for old pods
The concept of a computerised "Personal Rapid Transport" network that lets people make individual journeys while they travel in individual "pods", has had its enthusiasts since the idea was first proposed in the 1960s.
Now a research team at Princeton University has reviewed the literature, examined the latest technology, and worked out a plan for how PRT could cover the entire State of New Jersey.
The researchers, lead by Professor Alain Kornhauser, have calculated that with 2770 network stations and 3678 km of guideways, PRT could take over from cars for most trips residents would want to make.
At the same time, PRT would significantly reduce the State's pollution problems, cut the road toll and improve the quality of life, says Prof Kornhauser.
"Although it might seem an overly ambitious amount of proposed guideway, it should be noted that the number is far less than half of the existing roads in New Jersey," he said. "Conservative estimates peg the total cost of the project at around $US10 billion. And although $US10 billion might sound a lot of money, it is quite a small price to pay for efficient and effective transport for everyone."
Guiding words
Many cities now tailor their transport services to assist people with impairments - but it is not always physical services that are needed.
For example, in London transport authorities have found that people with learning difficulties often find using public transport is both complicated and intimidating.
In an attempt to overcome such problems Transport for London (TfL) has just published a travel guide written specifically for people with learning difficulties.
The guide describes step by step procedures for tackling a host of problems that might be found when travelling - including crossing busy roads and operating an automatic ticket machine.
Much of the text for the guide was actually prepared by people who themselves have learning difficulties. TfL used Working With Words, a London-based agency that specialises in simplifying instructions, to edit the guide.
