MonoCab VRT Rapid Transit System

The MonoCab VRT rapid transit system is a new rapid transit solution that successfully addresses several of the world’s most pressing challenges:-

1. Public transport
   
2. Energy efficiency
   
3. Freight & bulk material transport
   
4. CO₂ emissions
   
5. Traffic congestion
   
6. Water supply
   
7. Population decentralisation

To encourage your use of any urban public transport system, it must provide, as close as possible (or even surpass), the benefits you now enjoy with your car and at a lower cost:-

• Comfort
• Speed
• Convenience
• Accessibility
• Safety
• Availability
• Extensive track network (Examples:- "Spider Web" tracks for Brisbane, Gold Coast and Canberra)

As well as urban public transport, the MonoCab VRT system provides commuter and long distance passenger travel plus freight transport and the transport of bulk materials such as mineral ores and grains.

Design Philosophy:-

Railways typically radiate from the CBD of cities and do not service every suburb. To travel to an adjacent suburb involves a trip to the CBD and another trip from the CBD if there is a rail line available.

Trains are multi car with perhaps 300 seats and run to a schedule, often not 24 hours per day. They stop at every station unless they are an express service between designated stations. Average speeds vary between 35 km/h and 75 km/h dependent on the particular line and the frequency of stations and level crossings. They run even if their passenger load is only 10% of capacity. A six car train weighs approximately 300 tonnes, excluding passengers, which has to be braked and then accelerated at each stop.

Trains essentially carry large groups of people at scheduled intervals (typically 30 minutes) on a single route with frequent stops for passengers to embark and disembark.

MonoCab VRT cars carry small groups of people (often only one person) along the most direct route at higher speeds, on demand and without any intermediate stops

This flow chart shows the contrast between current rail public transport and MonoCab VRT. Rapid bus is similar. This chart is for the rail line from the Gold Coast to Brisbane.

Assuming that there is 30 passengers waiting at each of the five stations within the Gold Coast. The train stops at each station on the way to Brisbane to pick up more passengers. When the train leaves the last station (Coomera), it is carrying 150 passengers.

Currently, these trains run at 15 minute intervals in peak hour.

For the same passenger demand, the MonoCab VRT cars travel directly from each station to Brisbane without any stops. Transit time is approximately 35% of that of the train. The fare is 50% of the train fare and 11.6% of the total cost to Government. It is also 15.5% of the cost of driving a Toyota Corolla.

The MonoCab VRT car (refer below) used would depend on the demand at any particular time. At midnight it would most likely be the Mini or the Maxi whilst it would be the Express or the Commuter at peak hours.

The cars would travel at no more than five minute intervals.

It would be a similar operational regime in cities, where there is a MonoCab VRT "spider web" of tracks servicing every suburb. MonoCab VRT cars travel by the shortest route available between the passenger's point of origin and their destination without any intermediate stops and at higher speeds than any other mode.

Monorails enjoy a very high safety record and MonoCab VRT will easily maintain this given the technology we have at our disposal today for monitoring system parameters.

U.S. Department of Transport (USDOT):-

In July 2014, we were invited to present MonoCab VRT to an invitation only workshop in the U.S. on 3 & 4 December 2014. This workshop was organised by the Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) program within the Federal Highways Administration (part of USDOT). The attendees were USDOT executives, academics, private sector representatives, and local and state government representatives. This narrated PowerPoint video was prepared as an adjunct to our presentation. It gives a quick overview of the MonoCab VRT system.

Passenger Transport:-

Distinguishing features:-

• Small individual, automatically controlled cars instead of multi-car trains with drivers.
• Available on demand 24/7 instead of schedules (often no buses/trains scheduled at night).
• Four times faster (100 km/h, 60 mph) than trams.
• No intermediate stops in your journey.
• Extensive network of tracks.

The MonoCab VRT cars:-

The system uses 8 seat cars (MonoCab VRT Mini) for normal urban routes + 16 seat cars (MonoCab VRT Maxi) at peak times. The 8 seat cars (left) are approximately the size of a large family sedan, are automatically controlled (no driver) and are available on demand 24/7 (even at 2:00 am). The 16 seat car is an extended version of the 8 seat car. The MonoCab Express (30 seats) is primarily intended for long distance e.g. Brisbane - Sydney but can also be used for commuters. The MonoCab VRT Commuter (60 seats) will service peak hour commuter traffic e.g. Gold Coast - Brisbane.

Only people travelling to the same destination  as you will travel with you. In off peak travel, you and your travelling companions may well be the only occupants of the car. Often, you will travel on your own.

MonoCab VRT cars will travel at 100 km/h (60 mph) within cities and at 200 km/h (120 mph),  between cities with no intermediate stops between the start and end of your journey. Typical road car average city speeds are 20km/h in peak hours and 40 km/h in off peak hours.

Passenger comfort will surpass the family car. The MonoCab VRT Mini and Maxi cars use the same mechanicals as a normal road car and there aren’t many bumps in a 900 or 1200 high, massive steel beam.

Your journey will start within a few minutes of you entering the station saving you time and giving you greater flexibility (no more time tables). This short wait enhances your personal safety as there is less time, hence less chance, of an undesirable person entering the station and causing you distress. All stations will be equipped with security cameras.

The MonoCab VRT Tracks:-

The elevated tracks are constructed in the median of major highways and all arterial roads. MonoCab VRT cars will travel along the same highways and arterial roads you now use (but a lot faster). Mini-stations are provided at typical bus stop spacings with major stations at regional centres. The cars leave the main track at the stations.

The tracks will ALLWAYS be constructed above flood level.

Construction Costs:-

The low construction cost - less than $AUD 7 million/kilometre ($AUD 11.2 million/mile) - results in low loan repayments. This, combined with minimal staff numbers gives a low operational cost per kilometre. The result - low fares, in fact 50% of current fares without Government subsidies for construction or operation.

The 13 kilometre Gold Coast light rail/tram has recently been completed between Broadbeach and Griffith University. The cost was $AUD 1.2 Billion.

That's $AUD 92.3 million/kilometre ($147.7 million/mile) and this does not include the cost of the trams - these are an additional cost.

Public Transport Routes:-

Typically, existing public transport systems radiate from the centre of cities. If you wish to travel from, for example, a south eastern suburb to a south western suburb of a large city, you first have to travel to the city centre, wait for and change to another bus/train/tram, then travel to your destination (very time consuming and frustrating).

With the MonoCab VRT rapid transit system, you travel directly from your originating suburb to your destination suburb along the same highways/roads you would normally travel in a car but at a much higher speed.

Bicycles:-

Bicycles are going to figure more prominently in our travelling future. In Australia in 2008,there were more new bicycles sold than new motor vehicles. At the City Development World conference in Sydney in June 2008, Mr Geoff Lawler, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the City of Melbourne, noted in his presentation that they had seen a marked increase in the use of bicycles in Melbourne in the previous 12 months.

The MonoCab cars will accommodate an adult bicycle making it possible for you to ride your bicycle to the nearest MonoCab VRT station or mini station, take it with you in the MonoCab VRT car and then use it for the final part of your journey. In doing so, you will save time and money, reduce fuel consumption and pollution and get some exercise as well.

Energy efficiency:-

The best petrol engines achieve an efficiency of 27% and the best diesel engines approach 45% efficiency. The efficiency of electric motors exceeds 85%.

The MonoCab VRT Mini and Maxi cars have 2 electric motors (one each end) driving through automatic gearboxes. Both motors are used to accelerate the cars from rest, then one is disconnected when the required transit speed is achieved. The automatic gearboxes allow the motors to operate at their most efficient possible speed for the load conditions.

CO₂ emissions:-

The Australian Government have announced a target of a minimum 5% reduction in CO₂ emissions before 2020.

• Motor vehicles produce 16% of Australia’s CO₂ emissions.
• Reducing total travel distance of Australia’s motor vehicles by 32% = 5% CO₂ reduction.
• The MonoCab VRT rapid transit system can achieve this by removing cars from the road. 

Traffic congestion:-

Your observation of peak hour traffic on any highway or arterial road will reveal that most cars contain only one occupant - the driver on the way to or from work. Why would you drive to work if you could get there faster and cheaper in a MonoCab VRT car with greater safety and less stress? An added bonus - you save on parking fees.

Peak oil:-

There was much debate about “peak oil” early in this century. This fear has now eased due to the recent advancements in fracking technology in the U.S. However, as the world's population continues to grow, the demand for oil will continue increase while we are still dependent it for our transportation needs - ultimately leading to a new "peak oil" many years hence. There are many nations who have no domestic oil production, hence they are very exposed to the vagaries of the world oil market plus the negative effect on their national balance of payments.

Water supply:-

The sails under the track were originally incorporated for aesthetic and safety reasons.

Then their rain water harvesting potential was realised. The water collected will be of high quality as it will not have been in contact with the ground or any vegetable matter.

With basic treatment (dependent on local pollution levels), the water can be pumped directly into the water reticulation system. Potable water supply is of increasing concern in many parts of the world.

MonoCab VRT and the Weather:-

Adverse weather conditions will have negligible effect on the operation of the MonoCab VRT rapid transit system. Traffic would be halted when a cyclone was crossing the track for safety reasons due to wind blown debris, tree branches and the like. Otherwise high winds may require the cars' speed to be reduced for passenger comfort. Rainfall of any intensity wll have no impact whatsoever. Flooding certainly will not as the tracks will always be well above flood level.

For example, in December 2009, Great Britain, in particular, was paralysed by extremely heavy snowfalls. The would have been no impact on a MonoCab VRT rapid transit system. The frequent passing of cars would act as snowploughs clearing the 400 mm wide track 6.0 metres above ground as they went.

Population Decentralisation:-

For many years, there has been a worldwide trend for population movement to the larger cities for their employment, educational, social and recreational opportunities and advantages. This trend has placed a great strain on public infrastructures such as transport, water and sewerage.

The MonoCab VRT solution will revitalise many rural towns that are now slowly dying or enable the creation of new satellite cities/towns within a reasonable time proximity of major centres.

A 100 km journey to work or play will only take 30 minutes utilising the high speed (200km/h) MonoCab VRT. Many commuters spend much more time than this on a daily basis now.

A Quick Comparison:-