Potential of APMs as Line Haul Systems in Developing Nations: A Case Study — Sky Bus Metro Technology

Majority of the APMs are functioning as shuttle systems in airports and other major activity centers. Although the APMs are believed to be low capacity mass transit systems, which are applicable to low passenger volume corridors, the innovations in APMs are making them suitable to medium passenger volume corridors. Many developing nations have several old cities with narrow and heavily traveled streets full of various modes making them already congested. Introducing fixed guideway mass transit systems such as LRT operating on the streets is not possible due to lack of space. Constructing underground systems is cost prohibitive. Moreover, construction through several years on these streets disturbs the businesses on the street. Elevated mass transit systems with simple stations at intersections and only pier footings in the streets appear to be suitable to the medium cities in the developing nations. When compared to other elevated mass transit systems, elevated APMs offer simple and cost efficient mass transit systems. Some of the developing nations are in a position of developing some innovative APMs with a mix of existing APM technology and indigenous equipment and construction techniques so that the APMs are more suitable to the nations' conditions and within reasonable cost instead of importing the systems from developing nations at high cost. This paper discusses the potential of APMs as line haul systems in developing nations. The paper will also evaluate the Sky Bus Metro Technology, which is being developed in India by the Konkan Railway Corporation of the Indian Railways, as a line haul APM system.