May 13, 2012
Taiwan
| MOU backed by government-government contact. |
May 10, 2012
Pod paint job
Heathrow PRT (1 year old) dressed up as sci-fi Escape Pod in tie-in with Stuff.tv.
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May 2, 2012
Editor's Blog: Mixed outcome of San Jose pod study
| Finding that 'ATN' is "not considered technically feasible," and what that means (it's not that complicated). |
April 30, 2012
PRT in Governing magazine online
| Silicon Valley considers PRT system to ease congestion. Journal columnist (and California mayor) picks up story of the March 20 Mountain View meeting. |
April 2, 2012
Another achievement for Ultra
| Ultra PRT receives ISO9000 certification |
March 29, 2012
Site design note
| The Mobile edition of NewsCenter (phone icon above) has been upgraded for large-display smartphones |
March 29, 2012
Raleigh citizens like Ultra
| 'Midtown Raleigh Alliance' interested in PRT for the North Hills area |
March 28, 2012
Hint at Masdar PRT cost
| MIT blogger - Masdar visitor center director says PRT system is anecdotally, $8 million ($1 mil x the 8 vehicles cited). Including the stations, this is not bad for an approx. 0.57 mile prototype system, inside a specially constructed sublevel of an experimental city. |
March 24, 2012
Editor's blog: Not another agency
| Another Seattle group wants to build a west side monorail, including a downtown 'HCPRT' circulator. We're not thrilled. |
March 22, 2012
Amritsar video
| Ultra Fairwood's high quality rendering of first urban pod transit system. Note: it is not detailed enough to show the guideway deck is mesh, not solid.
3-23-2012: Video has been withdrawn by the uploader |
March 20, 2012
Mountain View discusses commuting answers
| Silicon Valley city weighs parking fees, housing; excited by PRT. |
March 14, 2012
Stick to the rules
| The article New mode of transport a distant dream for Walled City describes how the planning firm 'VR Consultant' is preparing a PRT feasibility study for the capital Jaipur -- but is asking the state government of Rajasthan to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding before the feasibility study is completed. The government has correctly refused. Thus prospects for PRT in Jaipur "seem to be dim." You're doing it wrong, 'VR Consultant.' |
February 28, 2012
Kerala monorail (and pods)
| Report that 22.2 km line will be built in Trivandrum, capital of Kerala state in India, instead of PRT project announced 2/8.
3/19: PRT, monorail and HSR are in Kerala annual budget released today by Finance Minister 3/22: $R25 lakh ($49,000) for preliminary work; 'Natpac' to sign off 4/4: Finance Minister - 7 km stretch from Vellayambalam to East Fort 'implemented by this year'; estimate of R60 crore per km ($16 mil per mile). |
February 20, 2012
CyberTran to I-Gate
| CyberTran (Group Rapid Transit concept) joins State of California business incubator
• Oakland Post article |
February 13, 2012
The Gap
| Thread in progress at Transport-Innovators highlights the size of the gulf between transit professionals and some PRT advocates. Manners matter, people. |
February 9, 2012
Ex-legislator's amnesia on transit funding
| Former NJ Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk's op-ed calls for pod transit, but wonders why "not a single PRT system is underway." The key is there are systems underway OVERSEAS. Why doesn't Republican Ms. Vandervalk blame her party's decades-long attacks on US public transit funding? When funds for public transit are limited, it makes innovation appear riskier and therefore transit agencies are unwilling to make such purchases. And that makes investors less willing to invest in would-be PRT manufacturers. |
February 9, 2012
Vectus materials on Suncheon project
| Updated brand video SuncheonPRT.com |
January 29, 2012
PRT test track running in Guadalajara
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January 10, 2012
India's Hottest New Transportation Trend
| Podcars at The Atlantic|Cities Depiction of 2-level guideway configuration |
January 9, 2012
Masdar hosts Dutch delegation
| Queen Beatrix rides PRT
:: Video (NOS) :: Mixed message-- Royal party arrives by PRT ...but leaves in a Mercedes limo. Links Fixed |
January 5, 2012
"India to get world's largest urban transport podcar system"
| CNN: 200-pod fleet to cut 30 minutes off journeys for 35% of Golden Temple visitors.
:: For those concerned about the rickshaw/taxi operators: 94% of Amritsar passenger trips are by paratransit (p.6) |
January 4, 2012
PRT's off at Gujarat development
| Gujarat, India - PRT deemed not needed for planned 550 acre Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) because the metro will stop there. GIFT Wikipedia page |
December 28, 2011
January Calendar
| • Jan. 21, 2012: The annual ATRA Technical Information Exchange is at the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Transportation Studies in College Park (College Park Station, Metro Rail and MARC). Early bird registration is $35 by Jan. 10.
•ATRA workshop and other activities of interest at the annual TRB conference at the Washington DC Hilton*: :: Jan. 22: ATRA- "Ready For Automated Mobility," 1:30-4:30 pm. :: Jan. 22: ATRA annual board meeting, 8-9:30 pm in the Monroe Meeting Room. :: Jan. 23: "Working Together: Multiplying Efficiency by Modal Efficacy," 1:30-5:30 pm. :: Jan. 23: "Critical Roles of Automated Guideway Transit in Multimodal Systems," 7:30-9:30 pm. :: Jan. 24: "Innovations In Mobility," 2-3:45 pm. :: Jan. 24: "Major Activity Center Circulation Systems Committee," 1:30-5:30 pm. * Registration may be required for some events. Venues TBA unless shown. |
December 24, 2011
FridleyPatch examines Taxi 2000
| The future of transit, or moribund? |
December 19, 2011
Editor's Blog: Dubious Eco-Promoter
| Businessman offering financing for eco-infrastructure misrepresents connection with PRT company |
December 16, 2011
Amritsar pods in NY Times
| "Pod Cars Are Poised to Transform an Indian City's Streetscape and Skyline" Wheels blog |
December 15, 2011
First Urban PRT Network
| Official: Ultra wins contract in Punjab for 1st & biggest urban pod transit system to date |
December 12, 2011
Taxi 2000 pops up
| Brief video with CEO Mike Lester, in advance of article at Fridley Patch |
December 12, 2011
Ceremonial start to Amritsar pod system
| "Sukhbir lays foundation stone of Pod system amidst protest" Punjab Dep. Chief Min. Sukhbir met with shopkeepers and assured them the project would not affect their business.
:: Zero polluting pods to run in Amritsar Times of India :: Photos of Ultra Fairwood illustrations Blog :: Shopkeepers fear loss of street-level window shopping :: Fares being revised upward Amritsar Tribune |
December 11, 2011
Heathrow operating data
| Impressive April-November statistics for Ultra pod system |
December 7, 2011
Masdar Anniversary
| One year since launch of Masdar PRT |
December 5, 2011
Founder of 'Swift PRT' decides it's not economically viable
| GIGAOM article. Aaron Patzer of Mint.com had wanted to create Swift, a maglev/linear synchronous motor concept, which he has now closed.
:: Believes the future is self-driving cars |
December 3, 2011
Dancing pods!
UAE 40th National Day celebration -- IRENA sustainable technology program, Masdar 'dancing pods,' part of multimedia extravaganza: Video (segment at 1:31:30) |
December 1, 2011
Heathrow transport official interviewed
| Airrail TV video with Alland Gregory: Mobile version |
November 9, 2011
'Jetson jetset'
| Evening Standard: Heathrow's Personal Rapid Transit pods |
November 2, 2011
Poland's MISTER goes to Brazil
| Proposing US$144M project in Teresina, state capital of Piaui; pod mockup to be displayed. Lots of sloppy research about PRT history went into this article in O Dia. |
October 31, 2011
Small start-up has big dreams
| For former BART R&D manager Eugene Nishinaga, GRT system CyberTran "ultralight rail is nothing short of a spiritual awakening." |
October 28, 2011
PRT is historic
| Ultra's prototype vehicle to be placed in the UK Science Museum's National Transport Collection |
October 25, 2011
Vietnam interest in PRT
| IT corporation FPT exploring pod transit ("Spider" means web/network) |
October 21, 2011
7 figures to sponsor "iconic" Heathrow pods
| BAA offers companies opportunity to put their brand on Ultra pods, stations, video screens, and signage. |
October 18, 2011
Ultra website updated
| ULTra site now "UltraGlobalPRT.com" |
October 13, 2011
Delhi study done
| Begun in April, study by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System & Capita Symonds for urban podcar system is completed, "project is likely to get the government nod soon" (transport dept.)
• Vasant Kunj - Vasant Vihar - Munirka service area (Gmaps) |
September 29, 2011
Amritsar PRT approved
| ...by Punjab Infrastructure Development Board. Very brief mention in Express India (in "Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway") |
September 24, 2011
Slightly ahead of its time?
| South Wales Echo article. As ULTra's first pod system goes public at Heathrow, Martin Lowson says Cardiff couldn't build PRT in 2002 due to lack of competitor, as required by EU rules. Cardiff maintains it was a funding decision. |
September 15, 2011
Official launch of Heathrow PRT
| The announcement was made on Twitter:
HeathrowAirport
The future has arrived at #Heathrow! Check out the new #heathrowpods that we're launching today: tinyurl.com/4y2busf Thu 15 Sep 05:24
HeathrowAirport
@jordandias Yes, they have been in operation, but their official launch is today. Thu 15 Sep 05:56 Daily Express article with video: Mobile version ITN: Mobile version Taking a ride on Heathrow's ULTra Personal Rapid Transit System Reuters: Heathrow moves forward with pod cars |
September 10, 2011
Guadalajara university program advances
| Development team for ITESO's 'LINT' (PRT) now includes Mastretta design firm |
September 9, 2011
Heathrow PRT video tour
| "London Heathrow's amazing robotic peoplemover 'Pods'." Australian Business Traveller Mobile version |
September 8, 2011
"A concept whose time has come"
| PRT on Urban Mobility 2011 series on Current TV (former Vice President Gore's network) The video has expired, but the article is still available. |
September 7, 2011
Editor's Blog: These are known as Outcomes
| "The esteemed emeritus Prof. Jerry Schneider recently posted a link in the Transport-Innovators group to a piece by the editorial board of the Oregonian newspaper in Portland. Here it is in full..." |
August 30, 2011
Editor's Blog: Statistics For Luddites
| How does a range of 95-99.999% become a flat 95%? |
August 29, 2011
First PRT project in India shaping up
| "Many vendors may get on board" |
August 19, 2011
PRT in "TPM Idea Lab"
| Pod Cars Make Their Debut At Heathrow Airport by Graham Webster |
August 8, 2011
Editor's Blog: JPods to sue MnDOT
| Adds to the unwelcome and nonsensical partisan politicization of PRT |
August 5, 2011
PRT in NY Times' Wheels blog
| "Pod Cars, Moving Silently at Heathrow's Terminal 5" |
August 2, 2011
SkyTran on KGO TV news
| "Magnetic gliding pods could be transit of the future" |