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Home Courses Railway Engineering: An Integral Approach Course materials Readings 6.1.1 to 6.1.2

6.1.1 to 6.1.2

Course subject(s) 6. Future and Special Systems

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6.1.1 Special and Future Systems

After analysing the railway challenges of today and developments of tomorrow, we will take a peek into the future and some non-conventional tracks used around the world. Where the principle of trains has been similar for over 200 years, a valid question would be: will it stay this way?

That is what we will be exploring in our final week.

Over the years, multiple special railway systems have been developed, like the monorail, maglev and cable cars. We will explain the underlying techniques in this final week. But today’s innovations don’t stop there – from the Hyperloop of Elon Musk, to a high speed train that never has to stop; and from a straddling bus covering motorways to a multifunctional bogie powered by solar energy. These developments call for a whole new level of creativity, and could have big consequences for our daily life, our notion of travelling and the word ‘train’ in general. But the image of trains and stations will always be an essential part of our society – an inspiring and attractive setting in which anything can happen: like a movie scene.

6.1.2 Course Wrap-Up

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