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This technology will end Amtrak and short-haul flights

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This technology will end Amtrak and short-haul flights
Posted by ttrraaffiicc on Saturday, October 31, 2020 7:59 PM

Sleeper cars! No, not as in railway cars, but as in automobiles. Self driven ones. The idea here is that people can travel overnight in a car built as a sleeping compartment. The big draw of these is that they are very energy efficient, have low costs are are individualized taking you from origin to destination. Technology like this has the potential to make short haul flights obsolete because they would be a cheaper, more convenient and pleasent experience compared to a flight. Unfortunately, the same also applies to sleeper trains, with the added bonus that these cars will be faster and require no transfers between pickup and drop off. The page below goes through a detailed analysis of these cars, but needless to say, try to get on an Amtrak train soon. It will probably be rendered obsolete and shut down by the end of the decade.

https://ideas.4brad.com/sleeper-cars

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Saturday, October 31, 2020 8:44 PM

At age 85, I think I can safely say that I will not use one of these. Nor would I buy any stock in a company that builds them. 

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Posted by 54light15 on Saturday, October 31, 2020 10:42 PM

Has anyone ever investigated the possibilites of sleeper hovercraft? Brainy science guys are working on this as we speak! 

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Posted by n012944 on Saturday, October 31, 2020 10:53 PM

Since many short haul flights are used to connect to longer flights at an airline hub, I doubt they are going anywhere.

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by Erik_Mag on Saturday, October 31, 2020 11:34 PM

Having looked into mm wave radar and the other sensor technologies for self driving cars, I really don't see the technology ready for hands off driving in the next decade or so for general purpose roads. The technology may work 99+% of the time, but that less than 1% can be a killer.

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Posted by JPS1 on Sunday, November 1, 2020 4:10 AM
Whether people get comfortable with self-driving vehicles with no one behind the wheel or steering mechanism to take over if something goes wrong is problematic.  The same notion applies to pilotless commercial aircraft.  Most people know that nothing is 100 percent fail safe.  They will insist on being able to take over when the control mechanisms fail.  And they will fail. 
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Posted by gregc on Sunday, November 1, 2020 5:10 AM

ttrraaffiicc has a gloomy chrystal ball.    listing of your posts

  • Huron Central Railway to end operations in December in General Discussion.
  • Intermodal swan song in General Discussion.
  • Goodbye to autoracks? in General Discussion.
  • Put those containers away in General Discussion.
  • CN Leaving Ottawa in General Discussion.
  • Pessimism is the only accurate outlook in General Discussion.
  • Bill Stephens's blog post about History suggests rail traffic won't fully rebound after recession in Observation Tower.
  • The Final Decade in General Discussion.
  • CN is reported to be mothballing the middle portion of the former BCR in General Discussion.

 

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, November 1, 2020 8:53 AM

gregc
ttrraaffiicc has a gloomy chrystal ball.    listing of your posts

He's quite the shill. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, November 1, 2020 9:02 AM

zugmann
 
gregc
ttrraaffiicc has a gloomy chrystal ball.    listing of your posts 

He's quite the shill. 

Seems he is in the grips of a great clinical depression.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Backshop on Sunday, November 1, 2020 9:16 AM

I read the link and it doesn't make much sense.  It may be efficient but it is only usable for sleeping, which is a large capital outlay for occasional use.  Also, for a family vehicle, it would have to be very large for all the lay-flat room.

I'm still waiting for the flying cars that PM and PS promised us by 1970.

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Posted by ttrraaffiicc on Sunday, November 1, 2020 10:29 AM

Backshop

I read the link and it doesn't make much sense.  It may be efficient but it is only usable for sleeping, which is a large capital outlay for occasional use.  Also, for a family vehicle, it would have to be very large for all the lay-flat room.

I'm still waiting for the flying cars that PM and PS promised us by 1970.

These cars aren't purchased, they are hired. You would pay a fare, much like an airline or Amtrak. The difference is that this is cheaper and takes you door to door.

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Sunday, November 1, 2020 11:02 AM

While technology is rapidly changing the groundrules, even faster than experts can imagine, this application seems like a real stretch.

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Posted by Backshop on Sunday, November 1, 2020 11:20 AM

ttrraaffiicc

 

 
Backshop

I read the link and it doesn't make much sense.  It may be efficient but it is only usable for sleeping, which is a large capital outlay for occasional use.  Also, for a family vehicle, it would have to be very large for all the lay-flat room.

I'm still waiting for the flying cars that PM and PS promised us by 1970.

 

 

These cars aren't purchased, they are hired. You would pay a fare, much like an airline or Amtrak. The difference is that this is cheaper and takes you door to door.

 

Why would it be cheaper? Just like a one-way rental in a car or truck, certain destinations cost much more.

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, November 1, 2020 12:05 PM

ttrraaffiicc
These cars aren't purchased, they are hired. You would pay a fare, much like an airline or Amtrak. The difference is that this is cheaper and takes you door to door.

Why fly in an hour when you can take a 10 hour car trip? 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by York1 on Sunday, November 1, 2020 12:08 PM

I'm old.  I'm traditional.  I have a fear of closed-in spaces.

I can't imagine lying down in a coffin-like vehicle, and letting it run down the Interstate at 75 mph while I am sleeping.

For some reason, I could sleep in an airplane with the autopilot engaged  flying 500 mph and not think twice about it.

But this thing on the Interstate?  No.  Maybe if it wasn't so closed-in and small.

York1 John       

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, November 2, 2020 10:05 AM

In almost all of his threads, the OP seems to have an absolute faith in self-driving technology.  This latest iteration may give a new definition to dying in your sleep.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, November 2, 2020 10:30 AM

zugmann

 

 
ttrraaffiicc
These cars aren't purchased, they are hired. You would pay a fare, much like an airline or Amtrak. The difference is that this is cheaper and takes you door to door.

 

Why fly in an hour when you can take a 10 hour car trip? 

 

This is something that is very obvious but many overlook or ignore it.  Confinement to one vehicle or train car for 10-40 hours is much worse than a two-four hour flight and moving to different modes at the end points for a few hours. 

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Posted by Gramp on Monday, November 2, 2020 11:48 AM

I think Hyperloop would have a better chance of succeeding than this one. 
https://virginhyperloop.com/

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, November 2, 2020 12:08 PM

Gramp
I think Hyperloop would have a better chance of succeeding than this one. 

In practice I have thought that what you're thinking is right; the technology implies vehicles of relatively restricted height even if built to ELF standards, so use of those 'business-class sleeper chairs' would be sensible, and the lack of a nonsynthesized 'view' much less debilitating.  You might need assistants like the stewards on a Pickwick Nite Coach ... or some sort of telpher to move stuff to and from passengers at their seats, like something out of The Machine Stops.

Not that it offers something I can't get better, safer, and far more cost-effectively from an augmented version of zunum...

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Posted by zugmann on Monday, November 2, 2020 12:13 PM

Gramp
I think Hyperloop would have a better chance of succeeding than this one. 

Time to bring back trebuchets!

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by York1 on Monday, November 2, 2020 12:21 PM

Gramp
I think Hyperloop would have a better chance of succeeding than this one.  https://virginhyperloop.com/

 

Another exciting vision of the future for claustrophobics like me.  I'll walk.

York1 John       

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Posted by Gramp on Monday, November 2, 2020 2:28 PM

Overmod, it seems to me that the Virgin Hyperloop's real advantage would be in moving palletized freight. Do you think so?  Constructing a true, direct trunk system with less need for a low grade route, impervious to weather, accident, and pilferage, tunneled or elevated as needed?

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Monday, November 2, 2020 8:30 PM

zugmann
Why fly in an hour when you can take a 10 hour car trip? 

A one hour flight takes about three to four hours portal to portal.

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Posted by Backshop on Monday, November 2, 2020 8:48 PM

Electroliner 1935

 

 
zugmann
Why fly in an hour when you can take a 10 hour car trip? 

 

A one hour flight takes about three to four hours portal to portal.

 

But you still get to sleep in your own bed.  In the OP's scenario, even with the sleeper car, you'd still have to rent another vehicle when you got there.

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Posted by zugmann on Monday, November 2, 2020 8:48 PM

Electroliner 1935
A one hour flight takes about three to four hours portal to portal.

Ok, so why spend 3-4 hours when you can spend 10?

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, November 2, 2020 9:15 PM

zugmann
 
Electroliner 1935
A one hour flight takes about three to four hours portal to portal. 

Ok, so why spend 3-4 hours when you can spend 10?

Maybe you don't want to be treated liked you are a cirminal to pass through TSA Security.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by zugmann on Monday, November 2, 2020 9:28 PM

BaltACD
Maybe you don't want to be treated liked you are a cirminal to pass through TSA Security.

We have to figure out the perfect grope-to-time ratio. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by SD60MAC9500 on Monday, November 2, 2020 9:42 PM
 

ttrraaffiicc

Sleeper cars! No, not as in railway cars, but as in automobiles. Self driven ones. The idea here is that people can travel overnight in a car built as a sleeping compartment. The big draw of these is that they are very energy efficient, have low costs are are individualized taking you from origin to destination. Technology like this has the potential to make short haul flights obsolete because they would be a cheaper, more convenient and pleasent experience compared to a flight. Unfortunately, the same also applies to sleeper trains, with the added bonus that these cars will be faster and require no transfers between pickup and drop off. The page below goes through a detailed analysis of these cars, but needless to say, try to get on an Amtrak train soon. It will probably be rendered obsolete and shut down by the end of the decade.

https://ideas.4brad.com/sleeper-cars

 

Maybe you should post actual operation of these concepts you claim will lay waste to the railway industry. You will have a stronger argument. This sleeper vehicle.. Not only is it redundant. It doesn't slash travel time. People want to travel faster.  Not fall asleep for 8-10 hrs. in a car waking up the next day.. 

Here's a bullet point from your article

  1. Overnight trip to city 250 to 500 miles distant

This range can be covered in 3.5-6.5 hrs. in a car. Flight time from gate to gate with TSA security check point 4 hrs, or less.. This sleeper car concept is dangerous, and not efficient at all.

 

 
 
Rahhhhhhhhh!!!!
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Posted by 54light15 on Monday, November 2, 2020 10:07 PM

How efficent will these "sleeper cars" be if they are only suitable for use at night? Do the beds fold up into the walls? Can they be used in daylight? How can someone sleep in them if they work on the night shift and it's sunny outside? Will they have window shades? Cops don't like cars with blacked out windows. If it's a rolling bedroom and a man and woman are in it and nature takes its course, what happens at a toll booth or when a cop pulls you over? So many unanswered questions. Imaginary concepts are like that, I guess. 

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Posted by aegrotatio on Thursday, December 10, 2020 10:06 PM

gregc

ttrraaffiicc has a gloomy chrystal ball.    listing of your posts

  • Huron Central Railway to end operations in December in General Discussion.
  • Intermodal swan song in General Discussion.
  • Goodbye to autoracks? in General Discussion.
  • Put those containers away in General Discussion.
  • CN Leaving Ottawa in General Discussion.
  • Pessimism is the only accurate outlook in General Discussion.
  • Bill Stephens's blog post about History suggests rail traffic won't fully rebound after recession in Observation Tower.
  • The Final Decade in General Discussion.
  • CN is reported to be mothballing the middle portion of the former BCR in General Discussion.

 

 

Ad hominem attack much?

Your post adds no value to this discussion.

 

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