The publicly-known attributes of ATN systems already in public service are compared with the predicted capabilities of systems under active development. A description of each attribute follows.
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
22 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
60 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
5.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
15,840 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
31 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
No |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Public service |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
40 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
5.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
2,880 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
17 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.53 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
No |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Public service |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
3 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
72 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
2.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
5,400 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
3 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.12 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Wayside |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Concept |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
16 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
76 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
1.25 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
38,400 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
6.2 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.01 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
50 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
0.50 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
10,800 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
17 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.40 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
No |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
6 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
56 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
0.50 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
28,800 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
9 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.04 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
5 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
70 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
0.18 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
30,000 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
10 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.02 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Wayside |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
8 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
80 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
6.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
19,200 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
23 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
48 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
15.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
4,800 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Wayside |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Partially |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Public Service |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
250 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
NA |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
39,250 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
5 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Wayside |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
100 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
1.50 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
9,600 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Wayside |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
Proprietary |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
9 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
130 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
3.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
10,800 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
250 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
2.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
7,200 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
NA |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
48 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
NA |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
NA |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
NA |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
NA |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
72 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
1.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
86,000 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
2.7 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.02 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
4 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
290 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
1.90 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
27,692 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
0.13 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy suppl |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
LIM/REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
6 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
40 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
6.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
2,400 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
10 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Partially |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Public Service |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
6 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
100 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
1.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
21,600 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy suppl |
Battery/Fuel Cell |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Partially |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development (Gen 2) |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
2 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
60 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
1.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
1,000 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
3 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.05 |
| Propulsion energy supply |
Wayside |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
12 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
70 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
4.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
10,800 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
NA |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
NA |
| Propulsion energy suppl |
Wayside |
| Supported/suspended |
Supported |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
REM/LIM |
| Technology readiness |
Public Service |
| Vehicle passenger capacity |
6 |
| Maximum speed (km/h) |
100 |
| Minimum headway (sec) |
1.00 |
| Maximum capacity (pphpd) |
21,600 |
| Capital cost/km ($M) |
10 |
| Operations cost/pax/km |
0.05 |
| Propulsion energy suppl |
Battery |
| Supported/suspended |
Suspended |
| Rail guided |
Yes |
| Propulsion means |
LIM |
| Technology readiness |
Development |
Learn more
Connect to the website of each technology listed above by clicking on the name or photograph.
Purpose
There are now numerous different Automated Transit Network (ATN) technologies in public service, under development or conceptual. Each technology has differing attributes making it difficult for a potential owner to choose. This summary comparison attempts to indicate the technologies known to be in public service or under active development, and their primary attributes.
The technologies included are limited to those meeting the ATN definition in the ASCE Automated People Mover Standards ANSI/ASCE/T&DI 21-21: Subset of Automated People Mover that has all stations offline, switching that requires no track-based moving parts and train capacity less than 25 passengers.
The values used for each attribute were obtained from public sources and/or directly from the supplier and may or may not be achievable by the supplier.
Attribute Description/Pros and Cons
Vehicle capacity: The lower the vehicle passenger capacity, the lower the system capacity. The higher the vehicle capacity, the higher the guideway costs and the more the vehicle must stop and start if ridesharing is implemented. Less than 4 passengers prevents some families traveling together and may have limited space for wheelchairs, luggage, bicycles, etc.
Max speed (km/h): The higher the speed, the more passengers are attracted, and the fewer vehicles are required, but station entry and exit ramps get long, and suitably high curve radii are difficult to achieve. Higher speeds may require longer headways. The ASCE Standards only cover speeds up to 100 km/h.
Min headway (sec): This is the time from the passage of a fixed point on one vehicle to the passage of the same point on the following vehicle. The lower the headway, the higher the capacity. Minimum headway may depend on maximum speed.
Max capacity (PPHPD): The theoretical maximum passengers per hour per direction (PPHPD) shown is based on the maximum passenger capacity of each vehicle and the minimum headway, or that claimed by the supplier, whichever is lower. It does consider platooning when claimed. Some systems will struggle to come close to their theoretical maximum capacity.
Capital cost per km (US$M): This is the estimated total cost for an entire project including all aspects. This cost can vary considerably depending on local conditions.
Operating cost/passenger/km (US$): This is the estimated total operating and maintenance cost for carrying one passenger one kilometer
Propulsion energy supply: This indicates the primary means only. Wayside power distribution can allow lighter vehicles. However, it adds to guideway and vehicle maintenance costs. Battery powered vehicles are heavier, but provide a means of storing energy, potentially allowing vehicles to reach their destination in a total power outage.
Supported/suspended: Suspended systems are slightly more expensive, but the guideway protects the wheels and motors from the weather and hazards like falling branches. Short at-grade stations are facilitated because steep grades are possible while keeping the pods level for passenger comfort. The guideway is better suited to supporting solar panels. The guideway can be narrower and is typically higher up, thus causing less visual intrusion. Supported systems tend to be more economical at grade and more adaptable to potentially leaving the guideway for travel in mixed traffic.
Rail guided: Rail guided systems enable accurate steering that is essential to higher speeds. Rubber-tired vehicles are prone to skidding in adverse weather and can be required to slow down through merges and diverges to meet safety requirements but may be more adaptable to potentially leaving the guideway for travel in mixed traffic.
Propulsion means are either rotary electric motors (REM) or linear induction motors (LIM). However, a supplier could choose to use different means for different conditions. Linear induction motors are typically considered more expensive but better able to control vehicles in all conditions.
Technology readiness: We distinguish only between technology that is in public service, under physical development (evidence exists of significant hardware) or conceptual.
