thumb|upright=1.2|5000 series [[Guide rail#Railway guide rail|central rail-guided rubber-tyred rolling stock operated by Sapporo City Transportation Bureau, Japan, and built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company]]
A rubber-tyred metro or rubber-tired metro is a form of rapid transit system that uses a mix of road and rail technology. The vehicles have wheels with rubber tires that run on a roll way inside guide bars for traction. Traditional, flanged steel wheels running on rail tracks provide guidance through switches and act as backup if tyres fail. Most rubber-tyred trains are purpose-built and designed for the system on which they operate. Guided buses are sometimes referred to as 'trams on tyres', and compared to rubber-tyred metros.
History
The first idea for rubber-tyred railway vehicles was the work of Scotsman Robert William Thomson, the original inventor of the pneumatic tyre. In his patent of 1846 he describes his 'Aerial Wheels' as being equally suitable for, "the ground or rail or track on which they run". The patent also included a drawing of such a railway, with the weight carried by pneumatic main wheels running on a flat board track and guidance provided by small horizontal steel wheels running on the sides of a central vertical guide rail.
On some systems, such those in Paris, Montreal, and Mexico City, there is a conventional railway track between the roll ways. The bogies of the train include railway wheels with longer flanges than normal. These conventional wheels are normally just above the rails, but come into use in the case of a flat tyre, or at switches (points) and crossings. In Paris these rails were also used to enable mixed traffic, with rubber-tyred and steel-wheeled trains using the same track, particularly during conversion from normal railway track. The VAL system, used in Lille and Toulouse, has other sorts of flat-tyre compensation and switching methods.
On most systems, the electric power is supplied from one of the guide bars, which serves as a third rail. The current is picked up by a separate lateral pickup shoe. The return current passes via a return shoe to one or both of the conventional railway tracks, which are part of most systems, or to the other guide bar.
thumb|[[Sapporo Subway guide rail and flat steel roll ways]]
Rubber tyres have higher rolling resistance than traditional steel railway wheels. There are some advantages and disadvantages to increased rolling resistance, causing them to not be used in certain countries.
- For example, the rubber-tyred Line 2 of the Lausanne Metro has grades of up to 12%.
- Shorter braking distances, allowing trains to be signalled closer together.
- Quieter rides in open air (both inside and outside the train).
- Possibility of tyre blow-outs - not possible in railway wheels.
- Higher cost of maintenance and manufacture.
Although it is a more complex technology, most rubber-tyred metro systems use quite simple techniques, in contrast to guided buses. Heat dissipation is an issue as eventually all traction energy consumed by the train — except the electric energy regenerated back into the substation during electrodynamic braking — will end up in losses (mostly heat). In frequently operated tunnels (typical metro operation) the extra heat from rubber tyres is a widespread problem, necessitating ventilation of the tunnels. As a result, some rubber-tyred metro systems do not have air-conditioned trains, as air conditioning would heat the tunnels to temperatures where operation is not possible.
Similar technologies
Automated driverless systems are not exclusively rubber-tyred; many have since been built using conventional rail technology, such as London's Docklands Light Railway, the Copenhagen metro and Vancouver's SkyTrain, the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort line, which uses converted rolling stocks from non-driverless trains, as well as AirTrain JFK, which links JFK Airport in New York City with local subway and commuter trains. Most monorail manufacturers prefer rubber tyres.
Different operation systems
thumb|Paris Métro MP 55 bogie
thumb|Paris Métro MP 73 Bogie
thumb|Paris Métro MP 73
{| class="wikitable"
! scope=col | Feature
! scope=col | Rubber-tyred metro
! scope=col | Rubber-tyred tram
|-
! scope=row | Summary
|Rubber-tyred metros are essentially large, rubber-tired trains that run on specialized guideways with parallel rails and guide rails, designed for high-capacity transit systems like Paris and Montreal.
|Rubber-tyred trams, such as the Translohr system, are more akin to guided buses or trams on tires, using a single central guiding rail instead of parallel guideways to achieve the same steep-gradient capabilities.
|-
! scope=row | Primary purpose
|High-capacity, high-performance rapid transit.
|Light rail, less intense applications than a metro.
|-
! scope=row | Track/guideway
|Dedicated infrastructure with rollways for rubber tires and a separate steel rail for steel guidance wheels.
|A single, central guiding rail on a concrete track.
|-
! scope=row | Wheel configuration
|Dual wheels: rubber-tyred wheels for traction and braking, and steel wheels with flanges for guidance.
|Primarily rubber tires with a flange that engages the central guiding rail.
|-
! scope=row | System complexity
|Higher mechanical complexity due to multiple wheel types and specialized guideways.
|Also mechanically complex, often using a single guiding rail system.
|-
! scope=row | Vehicle type
|Designed for high-speed metro operations, often purpose-built.
|Can resemble a conventional tram or trolleybus but uses the guiding rail for direction.
|-
! scope=row | Performance and cost
|Better acceleration and braking, able to climb steeper gradients. High energy use, high maintenance for tires and guideway.
|Capable of steeper gradients. Can have higher maintenance and air pollution from tires.
|}
List of rubber-tyred metro systems
This list is for Rubber-tyred metro systems. Not to be confused with Rubber-tyred tram systems.
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!width=125px|Country/Region
!width=175px|City/Region
!width=250px|System
!width=225px|Technology
!width=150px|Year opened
|-
|
|Montreal
|Montreal Metro
|Bombardier MR-73 (Green, Blue, Yellow)<br />Alstom/Bombardier MPM-10 (Orange, Green)
|1966
|-
|
|Santiago
|Santiago Metro (Lines 1, 2, and 5)
|Alstom NS-74 (5)<br />Concarril NS-88 (2)<br />Alstom NS-93 (1, 5)<br />Alstom NS-04 (2)<br />CAF NS-07 (1)<br />CAF NS-12 (1)<br />Alstom NS-16 (2, 5)
|1975
|-
|rowspan=3|
|Chongqing
|Bishan SkyShuttle
|BYD Skyshuttle
|2021
|-
|Guangzhou
|Zhujiang New Town Automated People Mover System
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100
|2010
|-
|Shanghai
|Shanghai Metro (Pujiang line)
|Bombardier Innovia APM 300
|2018
|-
|rowspan=8|
|Lille
|Lille Metro
|Matra VAL206<br />Siemens VAL208
|1983
|-
|Lyon
|Lyon Metro (Lines A, B, and D)
|Alstom MPL 75 (A, B)<br />Alstom MPL 85 (D)
|1978
|-
|Marseille
|Marseille Metro
|Alstom MPM 76
|1977
|-
|Paris
|Paris Métro (Lines 1, 4, 6, 11, and 14)
|Michelin / Alstom, between Rollways
|1958
|-
|Paris (Orly Airport)
|Orlyval
|Matra VAL206
|1991
|-
|Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport)
|CDGVAL
|Siemens VAL208
|2007
|-
|Rennes
|Rennes Metro
|Siemens VAL208 (A)
Siemens Cityval (B)
|2002
|-
|Toulouse
|Toulouse Metro
|Matra VAL206<br />Siemens VAL208
|1993
|-
|rowspan=2|
|Frankfurt Airport
|SkyLine
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100 (as Adtranz CX-100)
|1994
|-
|Munich Airport
|
|Bombardier Innovia APM 300
|2015
|-
|
|Soekarno–Hatta International Airport
|Soekarno–Hatta Airport Skytrain
|Woojin
|2017
|-
|
|
|Automated People Mover
|Mitsubishi Crystal Mover<br />Ishikawajima-Harima
|1998 <br /> 2007 (Phase II)
|-
|
|Turin
|Metrotorino
|Siemens VAL208
|2006
|-
|rowspan=10|
|Hiroshima
|Hiroshima Rapid Transit (Astram Line)
|Kawasaki<br />Mitsubishi<br />Niigata Transys
|1994
|-
|Kobe
|Kobe New Transit (Port Island Line / Rokkō Island Line)
|Kawasaki
|1981 (Port Island Line) <br /> 1990 (Rokkō Island Line)
|-
|Osaka
|Nankō Port Town Line
|Niigata Transys
|1981
|-
|Saitama
|New Shuttle
|
|1983
|-
|Sapporo
|Sapporo Municipal Subway
|Kawasaki
|1971
|-
|rowspan=2|Tokyo
|Yurikamome
|Mitsubishi<br />Niigata Transys<br />Nippon Sharyo<br />Tokyu
|1995
|-
|Nippori–Toneri Liner
|Niigata Transys
|2008
|-
|Tokorozawa / Higashimurayama
|Seibu Yamaguchi Line
|Niigata Transys
|1985
|-
|Sakura
|Yamaman Yūkarigaoka Line
|Nippon Sharyo
|1982
|-
|Yokohama
|Kanazawa Seaside Line
|Mitsubishi<br />Niigata Transys<br />Nippon Sharyo<br />Tokyu
|1989
|-
| rowspan="3" |
|Busan
|Busan Subway Line 4
|K-AGT (Woojin)
|2011
|-
|Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-do
|U Line
|Siemens VAL208
|2012
|-
|Seoul
|Sillim Line
|K-AGT (Woojin)
|2022
|-
|
|Taipa, Cotai
|Macau Light Rapid Transit
|Mitsubishi Crystal Mover
|2019
|-
|
|Kuala Lumpur International Airport
|Aerotrain
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100 (as Adtranz CX-100)
|1998
|-
|
|Mexico City
|Mexico City Metro (All lines except A & 12)
|Michelin, between Rollways
|1969
|-
|
|Singapore
|Light Rail Transit
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100 (C801 [as Adtranz CX-100] and C801A) and future APM 300R (C801B)<br />Mitsubishi Crystal Mover (C810 and C810A)
|1999
|-
|
|Lausanne
|Lausanne Metro Line M2
|Alstom MP 89
|2008
|-
|rowspan=2|
|Taipei
|Taipei Metro Brown Line
|Matra/GEC Alsthom VAL 256<br />Bombardier Innovia APM 256
|1996
|-
|Taoyuan Airport
|Taoyuan International Airport Skytrain
|Niigata Transys
|2018
|-
|
|Bangkok
|Gold Line
|Bombardier Innovia APM 300
|2020
|-
|
|Dubai International Airport
|Dubai International Airport Automated People Mover
|Mitsubishi Crystal Mover (Terminal 3)<br />Bombardier Innovia APM 300 (Terminal 1)
|2013
|-
|rowspan=3|
|Gatwick Airport
|Terminal-Rail Shuttle
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100 (Replaced C-100s)
|1988
|-
|Stansted, Essex (Stansted Airport)
|Stansted Airport Transit System
|Westinghouse/Adtranz C-100<br />Adtranz/Bombardier CX-100
|1991
|-
|Heathrow Airport
|Heathrow Terminal 5 Transit
|Bombardier Innovia APM 200
|2008
|-
| rowspan="10" |
|Chicago, Illinois (O'Hare)
|Airport Transit System
|Bombardier Innovia APM 256 (Replaced VAL256s in 2019)
|1993–2018 (VAL), 2021 (Innovia)
|-
|Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (DFW Airport)
|Skylink
|Bombardier Innovia APM 200
|2007
|-
|Denver, Colorado (DEN Airport)
|Automated Guideway Transit System
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100
|1995
|-
|Houston, Texas (George Bush Intercontinental Airport)
|Skyway
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100 (as Adtranz CX-100)
|1999
|-
|Miami, Florida
|Metromover
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100 (Replaced C-100s late 2014)
|1986
|-
|Phoenix, Arizona (Sky Harbor International Airport)
|PHX Sky Train
|Bombardier Innovia APM 200
|2013
|-
|San Francisco, California (SFO Airport)
|AirTrain (San Francisco International Airport)
|Bombardier Innovia APM 100
|2003
|-
|Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
|The Plane Train
|Westinghouse C-100/Bombardier Innovia APM 100
|1980
|-
|Washington, D.C. (Dulles International Airport)
|AeroTrain
|Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Crystal Mover
|2010
|}
Under construction
{|class="wikitable"
!width=125px|Country/Region
!width=150px|City/Region
!width=250px|System
|-
|
|Busan
|Busan Metro Line 5
|-
|
|Los Angeles, California (LAX Airport)
|SkyLink
|-
|}
Proposed systems
{|class="wikitable"
!width=125px|Country/Region
!width=150px|City/Region
!width=250px|System
|-
|
|Melbourne, Victoria
|Melbourne MCT
|}
Defunct systems
{|class="wikitable"
!Country/Region
!City/Region
!System
!Technology
!Year opened
!Year closed
|-
|
|Laon
|Poma 2000
|Cable-driven
|1989
|2016
|-
|
|Komaki
|Peachliner
|Nippon Sharyo
|1991
|2006
|}
See also
- Budd–Michelin rubber-tired rail cars
- Flat tire
- Guided bus
- Hybrid systems
- Light metro#List of light metro systems
- Micheline (railcar)
- Outline of tires
- Railway electrification system
- Rubber-tyred trams
- Tire (also spelled tyre)
- Toronto Zoo Domain Ride
- Tünel – a rubber-tyred funicular in Istanbul, Turkey
- VAL (Véhicule Automatique Léger)
Notes
References
- Bindi, A. & Lefeuvre, D. (1990). ' Rennes: Ouest-France. .
- Gaillard, M. (1991). ' Amiens: Martelle. .
- Marc Dufour's "The principle behind the rubber-tired metro". (English)
External links
- Visual dictionary
- TRUCK (bogie)
- Rail system
- (Jane's) Urban Transit Systems