Morgantown PRT End to End

[philritter21]

Those things are adorable

[euerhirte]

Like a small train without rails.

[ilegalsheepbutcher]

looks bumpy lol

[TXTCLA55]

Probably the closest thing to the Toronto Zoo Domain Ride, i want to ride a system like this so bad! :(

[interchange42]

The very late and lamented Domain Ride - I wish someone would throw some money at it and bring it back!

[TXTCLA55]

@interchange42 I know right, the whole reason why it broke down was because they didnt maintain it enough, and now they have just a bunch of old concrete girders and stations leaving me to wonder what it might have been like, really pisses me off :@ lol

[banaanlijn10]

Whats happend with this is this destroit (Sorry my english is bad i com from the Netherlands)

[JCM1325]

I hate that fuckin' piece of shit! That damn thing made me 20 minutes late for class today. I have to take it from Engineering to Beechurst since I have to park at the coliseum each day. Anyway, it went down and I had to take the bus instead. I miss living downtown so much because I didn't have to subject myself to the likes of the PRT.

[joebehrdenver]

Wow.  So cool!

[u2bzane]

I don't intend to spark up a whole political debate, I just want to say R. I. P. Sen. Robert Byrd, if innovative transit projects are what the politicians call "pork", it tastes good.

[signlaw]

Very cool, too bad this was not a widespread idea back then. Today, the system would have paid for itself a dozen times over, in any city it found itself.

[cabasse]

just over walking speed? funny though, these are more elaborate stations than many light rail systems being built today have (houston, charlotte)

[thematrixkid17]

lol I see my car

[waynegasparro]

in iraq and missing home!thanks for the ride!

[kfirie]

haha ur so bored, taping the long prt ride

[wrcousert]

This looks very similar to ULTRa PRT. Would it take much to upgrade this system to use their cars?

[TheRobert2254]

this is the prototype of all PRT"S this 1 been operation sence 1975

[aljawhar]

that's funny and nice

[sctriplefox]

If you've read up on PRT systems you'll know that Morgantown isn't the best example, mainly because the scale of the track and cars is "Automated People Mover" sized - larger than what present-day companies propose. Size increases the cost of track and cars, introduces more maintenance and safety issues, and increases safe braking distances(slowing traffic). WVU went 10x over budget in initial costs.

Despite that, it has an impressive record: no injuries, 98% reliable, low operating costs.

[Jisdoldrums]

98% Reliable, That is a huge false statement, its more like 80% reliable, if even that, it breaks down to for some amount of time almost every day there is weather

[wvwarbird1]

I work for the PRT and we finished 3rd in the world for reliability. Pretty good considering we have a system that 30+ years old with limited to no upgrades!!!!

[jmorton528]

They just replaced the computer system this summer.

[wvwarbird1]

nah, they did that a few years ago. This summer's shut down was for boiler pipe repair for the guidway heating system and CAS loop repair, and steering rail replacement. Much needed stuff, but man it was hot out there... ;)

[ShwangShwing]

This doesn't run on rails as I see. Right?

[ganmiko]

Yes. It's run on wheels. It's enought. This vehicle is computer controlled and wheels are enought. ;) that's great! It's our future.

[ShwangShwing]

Is it really the future? This technology exists for quite a while and yet no colosal projects are being build. I wander why? This system seems very effective.

[mbtaphotographer]

Well, there are several projects planned, including a vast network for a proposed car-free neighborhood in Abu Dhabi, but as few there haven't have many successful applications of PRT so far, few cities are prepared to take the risk. Another problem is that relative to construction costs, the capacity of the system would be small, as each car only fits a few people. Light Rail is generally much cheaper to install and more efficient, and for very dense cities, metros are better.

[Rickyrab]

@mbtaphotographer

My guess is that PRT might do pretty well in some American suburbs, especially if existing roads and railways are used as guideways (to cut down on guideway costs). PRT is really a suburban mode of transportation, like the automobile.

[mbtaphotographer]

@Rickyrab Yeah, that's probably right.

[kfirie]

no it is wheels

[Pillowman12188]

im suprised it didnt break down

[Jisdoldrums]

haha exactly

[morgantown1]

I was conceived on the PRT!

[interchange42]

Jeez, there really are "splat zones" (see below} on the PRT. Anyhoo, I saw none of that going on while I was riding it...

[JCM1325]

@morgantown1 How's it going son? hehe...

[kishankakarla]

I miss WVU..

Thanks for uploading..

[scallopboy]

I was there on holiday many years ago and rode the PRT. Great to see this and thanks for posting it.

[interchange42]

It was a bit bumpy, but not so much as to be uncomfortable, and I think the noise was magnified by my camera doing its best to magnify whatever it could hear, as it is actually pretty quiet. I suppose it might be best described as "feeling it's 30 years" at this point. Glad you like the vid!

[greatbunzinni]

I've just read Technology Review's article on PRT systems that mentions Morgantown's and thankfully you've posted this video. Kudos! Regarding the drive, it appears to be a bit uncomfortable, with all that noise and shakiness. Is it really that shaky and noisy or is it just the recording?

[JNozum]

Thank you for posting this video! I tried to do this myself back in the days of VHS camcorders, but got it (the PRT) in the "wrong mode" (stopping at EVERY station). I was a student at WVU in 1996 to 2003.

[celticchrys]

It's WVU; not UWV. Interesting idea for a video.

[interchange42]

Thanks! I have fixed the WVU references. Cheers!

[Splatzone]

Why is there a load of barrels at 2:17? Some sort of last resort should it crash? :P

[interchange42]

I suppose you would have to consider that a 'splat zone'?

[interchange42]

Glad you liked it!

Everybody: it's a bit crappy in normal quality, so make sure you watch in high quality!!!!!

[Splatzone]

Ah, much better! :P

[747K]

Very very very very nice to see the whole thing!!!!!!!!!