The potential of dynamic skip-stop to address the coverage paradox in urban transport through superconducting maglev rail technology

Chris Davis, Marcelo Blumenfeld

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Door-to-door journey time is an essential performance metric of a transport system and is key is the modal shift from car to public transport to incentivise more sustainable travel behaviour.

Urban rail systems have a systematic limitation in door-to-door journey times due to the trade off between average line speed and station access time, the coverage paradox. Traditional approaches to improve journey time focus on performance components such as acceleration, braking, line speed and dwell time but there is a fundamental limitation as the operating concept still requires all trains to stop at every station.

This research develops on the previously proposed Dynamic Skip-Stop system concept that was designed to address the coverage paradox with a heuristic approach to both infrastructure and operations. It is shown that implementing this would require technologies that are still at development or emergent stages, superconducting MagLev technology is one of these technologies and has potential to meet the system requirements and therefore implement the system concept.

As history has demonstrated, when new technologies are introduced, if the system concept is not adjusted to reflect the technology then the application will be limited by the concept and will not reach the full potential of the technology. Therefore, unlike previous research, this work considers the application of a new technology from a heuristic perspective, starting at the concept, and demonstrating how technology research could significantly improve public transport.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of Maglev 2024. The 26th International Conference on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives
Subtitle of host publicationVolume I: TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
EditorsHenrik Ny, Johannes Klühspies, Roland Kircher
PublisherBlekinge Institute of Technology
Pages403-413
Number of pages11
Volume1
ISBN (Print)9789172959583
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2025
EventThe 26th International Conference on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives - Malmo, Sweden
Duration: 18 Sept 202422 Sept 2024

Conference

ConferenceThe 26th International Conference on Magnetically Levitated Systems and Linear Drives
Abbreviated titleMAGLEV 2024
Country/TerritorySweden
CityMalmo
Period18/09/2422/09/24

Keywords

  • Superconducting MagLev Rail
  • Dynamic Skip-Stop
  • systems engineering
  • Public Transport
  • Modal Shift

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