Roller Coaster-Like Transport System to be Tested in Japan

[FeelTheFORCE]

A new transportation system based on the concept of a roller coaster will be tested in Japan under the name Eco Ride. The idea is to remove the drive system from the passenger cars making them much lighter and able to use a cheaper track and support system, similar to what you would find used for a roller coaster. The test line will be constructed in the China Experiment Station of ISS in China Prefecture and use a series of “drive units” to pull the cars to the top of an elevated piece of track where it will then run downhill towards either the next station or to another section of drive units who will raise it up once again, just like a roller coaster. The cost to install a system like is this expected to be about 10% of that of a light rail system or 20% of the cost of a monorail system.

 

Conceptual Design:

 

Link to article.

 

I, personally think it is great that new means of transportation that cut down on pollution and costs are being developed and implemented. Would this count as a credit?

 

Credit for the info goes to Screamscape.

[natatomic]

Oooo...the first functional credit!

[coasterdude5]

It'd be awesome to ride a coaster to work every day. And it will do what I've always wanted to be able to do - hve an "enclosed car" on a coaster. Not an enclosed coaster, but the actual ride vehicle be enclosed.

 

This should be interesting.

[Loefet]

There is a few errors in the Screamscape article, that is quoted at the top, namely that there isn't a place called "China" in Tokyo, but it should be "Chiba".

 

Wonder if this will be semirough that some of the Senyo Kyogo coasters are?

And would you be able to count it as a credit for every run between stations, or that you have to ride the whole stretch of the line in both directions to get it?