CarTube

Cartube is a mobility concept which combines two existing modes of transport, automated electric cars and mass transit, into a single, seamless underground road system. Cartube was unveiled on December 2, 2016 at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers by Lars Hesselgren and his research team at London-based practice PLP Architecture. According to Lars Hesselgren, Director of Research at PLP, “CarTube is a direct response to mass transit and traffic congestion in the world’s largest cities. Moving high-speed car traffic below ground will revolutionise our concept of the city, allowing our urban spaces to be designed not for cars, but for people. CarTube has the potential to be the next best thing to teleportation and will revolutionise existing cities and allow for unprecedented urban forms."

CarTube uses a network of small bore tunnels to integrate existing motorways. A dynamic platoon system controls automated cars which circulate above and below ground, allowing them to move within milliseconds of one another. As all cars within the CarTube communicate with each other, far greater capacity could be provided, in comparison with conventional public transport, as cars can travel in a continuous flow at a steady speed without slowing down.

CarTube would permit direct travel without interchanging, replacing the stop-start model of current transportation with a fluid, and integrated network. The primary network, controlled by the system, will flow at a steady speed of 50 mph.

According to PLP’s research, CarTube will typically double transport capacity for the same investment as conventional mass transport and reduce travel time by 75%. A journey from Heathrow from the City will take 16 minutes.

It is estimated that the CarTube will cost a fraction of conventional mass transport systems, due to the proposed infrastructure of the network, as well as the size of the tunnels. The CarTube tunnel diameter would be similar to the early tube diameter - a fraction of typical tunnels today. This is due to the fact that there is only need for ventilation for people, since the cars will be electric and have no emissions. Additionally, CarTube stations would be more compact than conventional stations as there are no escalators, pedestrian tunnels, staff and, crucially, no interchange system since the cars always travel directly to the requested destination.

The CarTube could be run on a dynamic pricing model, allowing fees charged to vary, according to the evolving needs of a city like London. This could include varied tariffs depending on the time of travel, or reduced fares for cars carrying a minimum number of three passengers. Users could for example be able to book a CarTube trip through their smartphones using either their own cars or public cars. The CarTube app will calculate a fare and an estimated arrival time based on an optimal route through the network.

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Wikipedia