Development status of automated guideway transit (AGT) systems in Europe and Japan

Europe and Japan have been developing AGT systems, similarly to the United Stated, since the end of the 60's. The fundamental ideas behind all AGT systems are to lower personnel costs through automatic operation, to raise journey speeds and travelling comfort through operation on their own guideways, to become independent of certain primary energy sources and also to attain a greater degree of attractiveness through more individualisation of public passenger transit vehicles. According to the degree of individualisation, a distinction is made between Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) systems and Group Rapid Transit (GRT) systems. PRT vehicles, having between 3 and 6 seats with no standing space, are intended mainly for demand service transit similar to that of a taxi. They are supposed to offer direct destination rides, without transfers, to any stop in the network without making stops en route and thus avoiding further unwanted passengers. GRT systems, with a capacity of up to 70 persons (usually seating and standing space available) offer various different modes of operation: For instance, a purely line-haul service during rush hour periods, such as in heavy rail transit systems, with stops at all stations, is conceivable. In such operation, several vehicles can be combined into trains. During off-peak periods, single vehicles can service the line, stopping as in the case of a bus service, only on demand.