TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
The disclosure includes systems and methods of mass transit. In accordance with one embodiment, the system includes a first train traveling on a first track having a first car with a first door for accessing the first car, a second train traveling on a second track parallel to the first track having a second car with a second door for accessing the second car, and a controller for aligning the first and second doors when the first and second trains are traveling alongside one another and engaging the first train to the second train so that passengers or goods can be transferred between the trains while the trains are moving.
1 . A transportation system, comprising:
a) a first train traveling on a first track having a first car with a first door for accessing the first car;
b) a second train traveling on a second track parallel to the first track having a second car with a second door for accessing the second car, and;
c) a controller for aligning the first and second doors when the first and second trains are traveling alongside one another and engaging the first train to the second train so that passengers or goods can be transferred between the trains while the trains are moving.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transit system is a mass transit system principally for transporting passengers.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first train engages the second train to permit transfer between the trains for a predetermined period of time.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first train is a local train and the second train is an express train.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the second train travels in a continuous loop and generally does not stop.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second trains are on standard width track.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second trains are on tracks that have a narrower than standard width.
8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising at least one overhead rail for engaging at least one of the first train and second train.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a machine readable program on a computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling the controller.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage device adapted and configured to store kinetic energy of at least one of the trains when said train decelerates.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the energy storage device includes a regenerative braking system attached to a battery.
12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the energy storage device includes a regenerative braking system attached to a battery.
13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the energy storage device includes a flywheel.
14 . A machine readable program on a computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a system for mass transit, wherein the program includes:
a) a first computer code segment for controlling a first train traveling on a first track having a first car with a first door for accessing the first car;
b) a second computer code segment for controlling a second train traveling on a second track parallel to the first track having a second car with a second door for accessing the second car, and;
c) a third computer code segment for controlling a controller for aligning the first and second doors when the first and second trains are traveling alongside one another and engaging the first train to the second train so that passengers or goods can be transferred between the trains while the trains are moving.
15 . The machine readable program of claim 14 , wherein the program is adapted and configured to instruct the first train to engage the second train to permit transfer between the trains for a predetermined period of time.