A bullet train never stops for passengers to get on and off

[shack]

The Chinese can invent some pretty cool stuff...not just copy.

The video is in Mandarin...but you get the concept.

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Here is the article in English.

http://softhunder.blogspot.com/2010/04/train-that-never-stops-at-station.html

[Jstas]

What happens the first time that little car doesn't quite line up right at the station?

[bobman1235]

Or the first time someone isn't completely on the platform of the little car before it starts to move? Modern trains have people (or systems, at least) checking to make sure everyone is in position before departing, while this is completely automatic.

[shack]

It's just a concept...and I feel pretty sure there will be ample safety precautions before if is ever put into place. Still pretty cool IMO.

[TNRabbit]

That's thinking outside the box!

[bobman1235]

It's just a concept...and I feel pretty sure there will be ample safety precautions before if is ever put into place. Still pretty cool IMO.

It's China. Given their value on human life, I wouldn't be so sure.

[Jstas]

It's China. Given their value on human life, I wouldn't be so sure.

Beat me to it.

[Tony M]

Cool concept but I think it would be hard to bring it to reality at those speeds. If the main train was going slower maybe that would work just fine. But at 60mph or more....I don't know...:(

[Keiko]

Pretty neat idea.

[RuSsMaN]

Very cool, and kind of obvious, why hasn't this been thought up already?

[audiobliss]

Wow, that is really cool!

[nooshinjohn]

Cool concept but I think it would be hard to bring it to reality at those speeds. If the main train was going slower maybe that would work just fine. But at 60mph or more....I don't know...:(


It's just a ride at DisneyWorld... looks like it would be fun to try. I would assume that passengers would be seated and buckled in as the first pod is captured by the train. The difficulty I see is the release of the pod being dropped off.:)

[shack]

It is really only an update of the age old concept of picking up/dropping stuff by a moving plane or train. Granted it was the mail or cargo...but the basic idea is the same.

http://www.old-picture.com/american-legacy/008/pictures/Mailbags-Waiting-Train-for.jpg

http://www.old-picture.com/american-legacy/008/pictures/Railway-Service-Hupp-Auto-002.jpg

http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Government_Role/1930-airmail/POL6G6.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/21/31723154_7fcab0e025.jpg

[bobman1235]

I don't see how it's the same. If it were the "same" as those cases people would just be snatched up / dropped off at full speed (and therefore killed instantly).

A million silly concepts like this are introduced every day, and rarely do they ever get built. This one is so filled with logistical holes that I can almost guarantee it will never see the light of day.