Is it a bus or is it a train? Actually, it is both! Japan’s unique vehicle is the world’s first dual-mode vehicle that is created to run on the railway track as well as on the public roads
Japan has begun the operation of the world’s first dual-mode vehicle (DMV) in some of its small cities. The DMV is a vehicle that looks like a bus, but apart from conventional tyres; it is also furnished with a set of rail wheels. The vehicle can operate on the road like a bus and, when required, it can get on a railway track and run on it like a train.
What is the significance of this article?
Last-mile connectivity is a vital issue in several countries, including India. Japan’s freshly introduced DMV could solve that problem and therefore, the launch description of DMV is newsworthy. In rural areas of India where railway connectivity is yet to reach, a DMV could play a crucial role in uplifting the transportation system of that area. Not to overlook, a DMV could be employed in urban places as well.
Small in size, runs on diesel
To make the vehicle affordable, the DMV runs on an engine that derives energy from a diesel engine rather than a petrol engine. The coach of the DMV is small but it is designed to carry 21 people. Given its small size and affordable journey price, the DMV at present will be run mainly in rural areas of Japan and will be also used for tourism in Japan.
Official statement of Asa Seaside Railway Corporation about the DMV
Speaking to Reuters news agency, Shigeki Miura, the CEO at Asa Seaside Railway Corp, said, “This (DMV) can reach the locals (as a bus), and carry them onto the railway as well. Especially in rural areas with an ageing population, we expect it to be a very good form of public transport.”
Top speed and other features of the DMV
The DMV is composed to hit a top speed of 100 kilometres per hour on public roads, whereas, on the track, it is restricted at a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour. Last but not the least, when the DMV is sent on the track to turn itself into train mode from bus mode, it takes around 15 seconds for the set of rail wheels to extend and touch the railway track.
