Rail Rapid Transit Systems Research Articles

Mass Transportation for the 1967 World Exhibition

An automated, 3-1/4-mile, steel wheel on steel rail rapid transit system, designed and built to serve visitors to the 1967 World Exhibition in Montreal, is described. Each of the eight trains consists of six 75-ft-long lightweight, air-conditioned cars. The double track line has five stations and a complete maintenance and yard facility. System capacity is 30,000 passengers per hr in each direction. An unusual method of supporting the continuous welded rail to dampen vibrations, is described. The problem of attenuating noise is considered, and among the methods implemented are an acoustic fence and viscoelastic compound applied to car wheels.

Terminal Planning For Future Highways

The Committee on Terminals, realizing that information concerning terminals on which future planning of highways should be based is sparse surveys current (1966) projects, and outlines major trends. The key points emphasized include providing parking directly in major commercial and residential buildings, and improved design of parking space and other terminal requirements in real estate complexes. The development of transportation centers, with appropriate ancillary facilities, at modal interchange points is described. Although the report stresses automobile terminal requirements, the Committee believes that no one vehicle can adequately serve all urban travel needs. Bus service and rail rapid transit systems must complement the automobile. Projects described include Century City in West Los Angeles, Macy's-Queens Department Store, Chicago's municipal parking program, and New York's Midtown Bus Terminal.

High-speed rapid transit equipment

Traffic congestion resulting from the increased use of vehicles on our city streets has reached the point where drastic measures are needed to permit freer movement of people within the metropolitan area. One of the brightest hopes for relief is high-speed rapid transit operating on private rights of way. This paper describes the performance which can be obtained with a conventional rail rapid transit system utilizing recent advances in propulsion equipment.