American High Speed Rail

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Transportation

This entry is a concept for a high-speed rail network that would be integrated into the automobile-based infrastructure of the United States. High-speed rail has already proven to be a convenient, fast, safe and efficient form of transportation elsewhere in the world but despite its benefits the idea has never caught on here. A possible way to make high-speed trains more effective in the United-States could be through the integration of personal vehicles. Regions that have developed HS networks such as Europe have denser urban centers and extensive public transportation systems that increase the level of access to HS. The population in the US on the other hand depends much more on personal vehicles that are needed for sprawling infrastructures. By creating a HS train that carries passengers conventionally and others within their own personal vehicles the idea could be more successful within the United States. Drivers could have the comfort and privacy of their own vehicle at 200 mph while traveling in-between close proximity cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco or Washington and New York. After arrival they would easily still be able to get to their final destination.

The train consists of two levels, the top that features conventional seating and the lower section where vehicles are parked. When the train arrives at the station the front car and rear car open. Mobile platforms at the front and rear of the train slide into place allowing vehicles to drive in and out of the train. Once in the train, barriers fold behind every car once they park. These evenly divide parking spaces and provide privacy. The lower level features large windows to still give passengers in their cars a comfortable environment and certain cars feature stairs giving access to lavatories or other amenities on the upper level.

Although this idea isn’t incredibly far-fetched it combines existing technology and could be a possible early addition to a path of more efficient and sustainable transportation systems.

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    Thomas Edmison
  • Type of entry:
    individual
  • Profession:
    Engineer/Designer
  • Number of times previously entering contest:
    never
  • Thomas's favorite design and analysis tools:
    a pen and paper, followed by Photoshop and Autodesk Alias
  • Thomas's hobbies and activities:
    Transportation Design, Auto Design
  • Thomas belongs to these online communities:
    Facebook...need to start a blog
  • Thomas is inspired by:
    Even though the calendar says its 2012, in a lot of ways it does't feel like it. As a designer my number one goal is to come up with realistic ways to design the future. And hopefully in some way, big or small help progress the world, while still having fun with it.
  • Software used for this entry:
    Autodesk Alias, Keyshot
  • Patent status:
    none