Dual Mode Minibus-Train Developed

Yet another great and interesting development form the
Land of the Rising Sun.

A dual-mode vehicle (DMV) that looks like a minibus and runs
both on conventional railway tracks and paved roads was
tested on the Gakunan railway in Fuji city (Shizuoka prefecture)
on the night of November 24.
The 28-passenger test vehicle was developed by the Hokkaido
Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) in a project that began in 2000.

Technicians aboard the DMV evaluated the safety and ride
quality during the series of tests on rail and road.
After the 3-km railway portion of the test course, the vehicle
stopped at a railroad crossing, retracted the railroad wheels and
switched to street mode in a mere 10 seconds.

A number of local governments around Japan have shown
interest in introducing DMVs because they are inexpensive to
manufacture and run.
In addition, DMVs conveniently allow passengers to travel from
train stations to their final destinations without having to transfer
vehicles. DMVs appear to be particularly attractive in rural areas
with limited public transportation because they allow railways to
offer more versatile and efficient services.

SOURCE:
Pink Tentacle

This is a very cool development that has a great deal of positives
associated with it.

Not only will it help the companies that produce them make money,
but, as said in the articles, it will help people who live in more rural
areas have more public transportation.

Another thing that was'nt mentioned, but I realised, is this will help
the environment by having less fuel consumed, since it can run on
the rail lines and the street, it can replace trains and buses that filled
in the niche areas that both consumed fuel.


Comments, Opinions?