Trackless trams the future

Trackless trams can be the future mass transportation, social planner Marie Verschuer says.

Outlining the evolution from rail to light rail to trackless trams, she told the Intelligent Transport Systems New Zealand (ITS NZ) two-day T-Tech19 conference in Christchurch the electric trackless trams are the best solution for suburban travel.

“It’s the answer to a new mobility ecosystem,” says Verschuer.

She has been involved in light rail studies in New South Wales, Australia, and the term ‘trackless tram’ was coined by media there, her work highlighting emerging technology and last mile solutions that could transform public transport.

“Any road that can take a bus will take trackless trams. It’s an automated and intelligent vehicle, so we can deviate it and programme it so it’s not always running in the same spot.”

Trackless trams will be tested in a race track in Western Australia, says Verschuer who is working with Curtin University in WA, local government and the RAC on trials and strategy to minimise social disturbance and maximise effectiveness of such new technology.

She says they are an easy fit in the environment as they are less disruptive than buses.

“They’re adaptable, scalable and affordable,” says Verschuer. “We’re not committing to something that is costly and in 10-20 years’ time is going to be obsolete.”

Verschuer says trackless trams have attracted considerable interest in 2019, and a study of them is being considered in China and Europe.

“People are not going to get rid of cars,” Verschuer says. “But it’s an advantage, instead of platooning buses with few people on board.”

Verschuer says trackless trams are suited to high capacity routes, are affordable, and are better for the urban environment.

She admits asking people to shift their transport mode could be a barrier to implementation.

Speaking after Horace Dediu at T-Tech19, Verschuer says when people are looking at taking up micromobility then the community is ready for trackless trams.

“ are offering a quicker trip.”

Verschuer says trackless trams have undergone tests and not shown to degrade the pavement on multiple runs along the road.