Skybus Metro
Skybus Metro is a prototype suspended railway system invented by Indian technologist Mr B Rajaram.[1] The system consists of an elevated track with the cars suspended below the track, like the Schwebebahn Wuppertal or H-Bahn systems in Germany.
A 1.6 kilometre (1 mile) test track in Margao, Goa started trials in 2004, but on September 25, one employee was killed and three injured in an accident when the coaches hit the concrete track pillars.[2] The test track was supposed to be extended to 10.5 km, but no progress has been made since the accident, and neither has the system been adopted anywhere else in India.[3]
Construction
Sky Bus can run at 100 km/h using electric power[citation needed], with suspended coach shells that carry the passengers.
Railway
Heavy 52 kilograms per metre (35 lb/ft) rails of standard gauge are placed in 8m x 2m-box enclosures. These rails are supported over 1m diameter columns 10m tall, spaced at 15-20m intervals on pile foundation. This structure is constructed in the divider space between road lanes. Sky Bus follows existing road routes without disturbing traffic.
Bogies
Two standard axle "bogies" provide the drive mechanism. Each bogie is driven by 3-phase alternating current (AC) motor. A third rail provides power. Braking is either regenerative (returning electricity to the grid) with supplemental disc and (emergency) mechanical braking. Power is delivered to the vehicles using brushes or by current carrying wheels.
Coaches
The coaches are double walled lightweight shells with wide larger windows & are suspended below the rails. The air conditioned coaches have 4m-wide automatic doors. They offer audiovisual information to passengers. Each pair of coaches carries 300 passengers. Each coach is 9.25m long and 3.2 m wide. "Trains" consist of two coaches, with total length of 18.5m.
Traverser
The traverser automatically shifts units between tracks. The traverser is a modified form of transverser used in others industries for lifting & shifting objects. In the traverser a platform of track is hung to a bogie which consist of a motor & is also mounted on the track. The traverser acts like a station. A distance of 50m from the last station to the traverser is maintained to provide holding capacity for two units as a third unit is getting traversed in case of unforeseen delay.
Station
The station is an air-conditioned platform 5.5m above ground. Stations have automatic doors and lifts. A smart card opens the station door. The station fits in a 50m long spot.
Margao test
In 2004 the Konkan Railway carried out a test of Sky Bus in Margao, Goa with the help of Goa state government. On September 25, one employee was killed and three injured in an accident, ending the trial.[4]
The track ran 1.6 kilometre (1 mile) The test track was supposed to be extended to 10.5 km. Rajaram defended Sky Bus, stating that the accident was avoidable.[5]
The steepest gradient was 2%. The sharpest curve had a radius of 100m. The maximum radius of vertical curve was 3375m.[citation needed]
See also
- Bennie Railplane
- H-Bahn
- Memphis Suspension Railway
- Schwebebahn Dresden
- Transport in India
- Wuppertal Schwebebahn
References
- ↑ New Delhi, Jun 20 (PTI):. "Konkan Rly to invite EOI for Sky Bus metro". Deccanherald.com. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
- ↑ http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/23/stories/2004122304661200.htm
- ↑ Pandey, Vineeta (2005-03-15). "Skybus project: Fantasy or reality?". The Times of India. Retrieved 2006-06-07.
- ↑ "National : Sky Bus Metro resumes after 3 months". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2004-12-23. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ↑ "ACD article 20th july 2010". Docs.google.com. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skybus Metro. |
- Skybus page from konkanrailway.com
- Konkan Railways Skybus page
- Indian Railways Fan Club: Konkan Railway Skybus Metro
- B. Rajaram, designer of the Skybus Metro
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