Research/Study leading to Pilot Project/Demonstration
Country: ITALY
Region: FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA
City: TRIESTE
Stream is an original concept of public transport system, designed and built by ANSALDO. Stream, a medium capacity system, operates on a network installed in the roadway from which it collects traction power and over which it exchanges control signals and messages.
Stream vehicles are rubber tyred and electric motor driven; the contact line is embedded at surface level in the road way along the entire route or a major part of it.The contact line is live only under stationary or moving vehicles; in all other points it is connected to ground and completely harmless and hazard free. The segment under the vehicle is connected to the traction supply as vehicles pass over the line. Stream vehicle drive is totally electric, with supply either from the contact line or from on-board sources (e.g. batteries). In normal operating conditions the vehicle collects traction power from the contact line; at bus stops it can charge on board services. It can however disconnect immediately and automatically from the contact line for brief periods and continue using the on board power source. A special current collector under the vehicle with two sliding shoes connects to the positive and negative conductors on the contact lines by means of a magnetic pick-up. Vehicles can reconnect to the contact line at any point by simply lowering the current collector; special reconnection stations are not required. These features give the vehicle the same operating flexibility as a bus.During normal operation the driver is in control of the vehicle with the current collector self-centering function keeping the shoes aligned with the contact line independently of vehicle movement. The current collector can also steer the front wheels of the vehicle as in a guided drive system.Vehicle operation is monitored on-line by a control center that pin-points vehicle position along the contact line with greater precision. Vehicle route, speed, terminus stopping time, etc. can all be calculated at the center and communicated to the driver. The control center can also communicate with the driver and passengers both on board and at stations.
This project is related to a larger activity, namely Trieste Research & Development on transit systems
For further information about this project please contact:
A.C.T. - TRIESTE
Tel. +39 40 77951
Fax +39 40 7795257
e-mail: mail@act.trieste.itwww.act.trieste.it
ANSALDO TRASPORTI s.p.a. - NAPOLI (ITALY)