How does PRT work? A simple trip.
A PRT system is designed to be user friendly and safe. This is how a lady living in an suburban area would go shopping in the local mall with her friends.
A Simple Trip.
Cathy today has spare time on her hands and decides to spend her time in the local PRT mall, like many public buildings now PRT transport systems are integrated in to the community with small stations positioned at every block so you never have to walk far.
An network linking public facilities
Cathy walks down the open streets in clear air with no fear of cars, as many are not used any more in the middle class suburbs PRT has replaced the car for many uses, as children run and play.
Cathy reaches the above ground PRT station above sleek and small PRT vehicles zoom in and out of the station on small and unobtrusive rails. The PRT station is nothing more than the size of a public toilet with the ATM style ticket machine and the loading and unloading berth.
Cathy goes to the ticket machine and inserts her smart PRT card or any other smart credit card or id card and selects her destination the amount is paid by electronic transfer and the credit put onto the card.
A Artists impression of an station in a mall.
Cathy joins the line to take the PRT unit, lines are very uncommon for PRT but today lots of people are going places. Cathy sees her friend Jane up in front with her husband Joe they chat about today's happenings as the PRT car approaches. They decide to share their costs and take the trip together to the mall, Joe has to go a few stations further to go meeting up with his mates, but with sharing costs is easy.
Cathy, Jane and Joe swipe their smart cards into the gate and the PRT car opens up ready to accept them, but inside it's a mess, wrappers strewn on the ground and drinks spilled on the seats, behind them they hear laugh's as a group of teenagers walk down the stairs. Not to worry Joe presses the reject button on the ticket console and the car closes and hums away to the cleaning sheds. The next car moves up ready for service.
PRT systems can be configured for handicapped use too!
Cathy, Joe and Jane enter the PRT vehicle Jane presses the Ready button next to the Security button, above them next to the door. The door slides shut and the trip begins.
The PRT vehicle runs along the track by-passing other stations, Cathy stares out at the new stadium being built as they pass by new tracks are being built going into the stadium the station there would be enormous to handle all the vehicles coming in and out.
The PRT vehicle merges seamlessly into the hi-speed track way gathering speed it travels centimetres from the vehicle in front, reaching 80km/h on the hi-speed routes it only takes minutes to get to the mall.
Going from the hi-speed way to the mall is a breeze with computer controlled speed sensors detect the approach of the mall station and slow down, the vehicle enters the decorative atrium of the mall. Cathy and Jane depart from the vehicle while Joe stays on-board to complete the rest of his journey.
Cathy and Jane exit directly from the station into the mall.