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A. Paz Martinez¹, Y.K. Adams², S. Nägele², V. Laqua³ and D. Winkler⁴

¹Institute of Vehicle Concepts, German Aerospace Center, Berlin, Germany
²Institute of Transport Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany
³Institute of Transport Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Braunschweig, Germany
⁴Function Technology & Innovation (SDT), Siemens Mobility GmbH, Erlangen, Germany

doi:10.4203/ccc.7.27.2

A. Paz Martinez, Y.K. Adams, S. Nägele, V. Laqua, D. Winkler, "Assessing Multimodal Mobility Systems for Benchmarking Rail-Bound Intermodal Pods in ERJU´s FA7-Projekt Pods4Rail", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 7, Paper 27.2, 2024, doi:10.4203/ccc.7.27.2

Keywords: seamless, railway, Intermodal, capsule, detachable, transshipment, swap body, pods, prospective ergonomics, user research.

Abstract

A “Pod” system, defined as a detachable capsule-chassis vehicle concept operating within a seamless, decentralized and autonomous transport system, presents an innovative solution to transportation challenges. ERJU´s FA7 project Pods4Rail aims to explore an intermodal rail-bound autonomous Pod system and its autonomous transshipment onto road and ropeway modes, serving passenger, freight and combined transport needs, using mainly installed infrastructure. This study evaluates several multimodal Pod systems, analyzing their technical, economic and environmental attributes, along with user needs. The findings reveal a lack of a clear benchmark for Pods4Rail, underscoring the project’s significance. Nevertheless, features from various concepts hold potential as benchmarks. Additionally, the safety of handling systems in cargo rail-bound detachable systems requires improvement in order to be applied on passenger Pods. The initial economic evaluation shows that the compatibility with existing infrastructure is a critical criterion, as well as its payload and capacity. Environmental criteria align closely with those of economic efficiency, but special attention should be drawn to noise emissions during transshipment. Moreover, exploratory “Future Thinking” interviews revealed potential users’ positive attitudes towards Pods, their assumption that this technology would meet their transport needs and could contribute to mitigate the transport sector’s negative impact on the environment.

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Front Page Browse CCC CCP CSETS CTR IJRT Other Authors Search Purchase Guide FAQ Contact us	Civil-Comp Conferences ISSN 2753-3239 CCC: 7 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RAILWAY TECHNOLOGY: RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE Edited by: J. Pombo Paper 27.2 Assessing Multimodal Mobility Systems for Benchmarking Rail-Bound Intermodal Pods in ERJU´s FA7-Projekt Pods4Rail A. Paz Martinez¹, Y.K. Adams², S. Nägele², V. Laqua³ and D. Winkler⁴ ¹Institute of Vehicle Concepts, German Aerospace Center, Berlin, Germany ²Institute of Transport Research, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Berlin, Germany ³Institute of Transport Systems, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Braunschweig, Germany ⁴Function Technology & Innovation (SDT), Siemens Mobility GmbH, Erlangen, Germany doi:10.4203/ccc.7.27.2 Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper A. Paz Martinez, Y.K. Adams, S. Nägele, V. Laqua, D. Winkler, "Assessing Multimodal Mobility Systems for Benchmarking Rail-Bound Intermodal Pods in ERJU´s FA7-Projekt Pods4Rail", in J. Pombo, (Editor), "Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance", Civil-Comp Press, Edinburgh, UK, Online volume: CCC 7, Paper 27.2, 2024, doi:10.4203/ccc.7.27.2 Keywords: seamless, railway, Intermodal, capsule, detachable, transshipment, swap body, pods, prospective ergonomics, user research. Abstract A “Pod” system, defined as a detachable capsule-chassis vehicle concept operating within a seamless, decentralized and autonomous transport system, presents an innovative solution to transportation challenges. ERJU´s FA7 project Pods4Rail aims to explore an intermodal rail-bound autonomous Pod system and its autonomous transshipment onto road and ropeway modes, serving passenger, freight and combined transport needs, using mainly installed infrastructure. This study evaluates several multimodal Pod systems, analyzing their technical, economic and environmental attributes, along with user needs. The findings reveal a lack of a clear benchmark for Pods4Rail, underscoring the project’s significance. Nevertheless, features from various concepts hold potential as benchmarks. Additionally, the safety of handling systems in cargo rail-bound detachable systems requires improvement in order to be applied on passenger Pods. The initial economic evaluation shows that the compatibility with existing infrastructure is a critical criterion, as well as its payload and capacity. Environmental criteria align closely with those of economic efficiency, but special attention should be drawn to noise emissions during transshipment. Moreover, exploratory “Future Thinking” interviews revealed potential users’ positive attitudes towards Pods, their assumption that this technology would meet their transport needs and could contribute to mitigate the transport sector’s negative impact on the environment. download the full-text of this paper (PDF, 14 pages, 878 Kb) go to the previous paper go to the next paper return to the table of contents return to the volume description
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