UK: ‘Thought-provoking’ design concepts have been published to show the ‘radical, innovative thinking’ behind Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority’s ambitious Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro proposal for a network of automated services connecting housing and employment across the region.
The concepts developed by three groups of consultants are not intended to be deliverable designs, but will help ‘inform, challenge and inspire’ the development of a business case for the project.
‘We have challenged some of the brightest and best minds in infrastructure to show us the art of the possible’, said Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough James Palmer on March 17. ‘The resulting designs show the vast potential for CAM to deliver something truly groundbreaking’.
He said ‘to bring world class public transport to a region of our size and population, we have to be bold and apply new thinking. These designs give us a powerful insight into what can be achieved when you are prepared to challenge convention.’
The Mayor said ‘high quality infrastructure is expensive. The welcome upgrade of 38 km of the A14 between Huntingdon and Cambridge cost £1·5bn. By comparison CAM will offer about 145 km of high quality, region-wide public transport, and at a potential cost of nearer £2bn, according to some of these designs.’
Dromos
Dromos Technologies, a German company working on autonomous technology for automotive and mass transit applications, has worked with designers PriestmanGoode, engineering consultancy Buro Happold and construction, property and management consultancy Rider Levett Bucknall on the Autonomous Network Transit concept, which envisages small four-wheel vehicles operating on demand.
‘With up to 84 stops across the CAM network, Dromos delivers significant passenger benefits’, commented CEO Lars Herold. ‘Passengers travel non-stop in their own Dromos vehicle, without having to share with other passengers. The system runs on-demand, 24/7, 365 days a year. Passengers request a CAM ride through their own devices, or from electronic kiosks at CAM stops, with ride availability in under 2 min any time of day. The vehicle offers generous interior space, work tables, wifi and space for bikes and luggage. Because vehicles travel non-stop, journey times are short and reliable.’
The cost is estimated at £1·5bn to £2bn, including 9 km of single-bore double-track tunnel. Dromos said ANT would provide ‘rail system levels of capacity’, while needing less space and a shorter construction time than ‘traditional mass transit systems’.
Egis
The concept developed by Egis proposes larger bus-style vehicles with a capacity of 20 to 110 passengers; it is intended to be ‘scalable, cost effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable’.
‘We propose innovations across the entire scope of the infrastructure, vehicle and operational concepts’, said Gilles Autuori, Head of Railways & Urban Transit Projects for Europe & APAC, explaining that ‘enhanced connectivity’ would be provided ‘by incorporating improvements for walking, cycling and modal interchange as well as integrated first/last mile services achieving improved coverage and accessibility to the system.
‘Our roadmap to full driverless operation provides a logical progression allowing for efficient and safe transitioning to the ultimate vision of an on-demand, customer responsive, seamless journey experience.’
The cost is estimated at £2·67bn with a tunnel under Cambridge, and £1·61bn using an-grade options.
Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald worked with design practice Maynard, Hong Kong transport operator MTR Corp, transport planning company Podaris and Transport Design International on its concept for fully autonomous battery-powered two-car bidirectional vehicles, which it says would offer a balance of proven and new technology.
‘Our design fully considers all the elements of how the CAM should be delivered: user experience, vehicle, infrastructure, operations, sustainability and finance and funding’, explained Stephen Luke, Practice Leader for Rapid Transit.
‘The golden thread running through our concept is the clear focus on improving people’s lives; we want to provide a community-based, sustainable, accessible mode of transport that improves the liveability of the region and that provides skilled jobs in manufacturing and maintenance.
‘Our concept features CAM stations that are reimagined as community-centred hubs; spaces that serve the public. We have put forward a modular construction approach, which will not only use local technology and manufacturing expertise but will also allow for each hub to the constructed in response to the specific and evolving needs of the local community.’
