Skybus Metro

Skybus can run at 100 km/h using electric power, with suspended cars that carry the passengers. Tracks , Goa, India. The system looks like a "monorail" but there are two conventional steel rails on the overhead concrete beam, with the car hanging from this. Heavy rails of standard gauge are placed in 8 m x 2 m-box enclosures of reinforced concrete. These double-track enclosures are supported over 1 m diameter columns 10 m tall, spaced at 15-20 m intervals on pile foundation. This structure was planned to run in the divider space between road lanes, so Skybus Metro follows existing road routes without disturbing at-grade traffic. The steepest gradient possible was 1.75 % and the sharpest curve had a radius of 100 m. 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 and are suspended below the rails. The air conditioned coaches have 4 m-wide automatic doors. They offer audiovisual information to passengers. Each pair of coaches carries 300 passengers. Each coach is 9.25 m long and 3.2 m wide. "Trains" consist of two coaches, with total length of 18.5 m. 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 and is also mounted on the track. The traverser acts like a station. A distance of 50 m 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 5.5 m above ground. Stations have automatic doors and lifts. A smart card opens the station door. The station fits in a 50 m long spot. ==Trials==