Mobility pods switch between roads, railways and cable cars with passengers inside

A new modular mobility concept could allow passengers and cargo to move between roads, railways, and even cable cars without ever leaving the same transport capsule. The concept is part of the EU-funded Pods4Rail initiative. It was developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), along with other research and industry partners, and coordinated by Siemens Mobility. The project involved 15 participants from seven European countries. The system uses standardized passenger and freight capsules, called pods. These can automatically transfer between specialized carrier units designed for different modes of transport. Each carrier unit provides the parts necessary for its particular transport mode, such as the chassis, propulsion system, power supply, and other technical equipment. “The aim of Pods4Rail is to provide seamless end-to-end mobility across different modes of transport,” Manuel Osebek, a DLR researcher who led the project, said. “Passengers and freight remain in the same capsule throughout a journey, being transferred to another carrier unit as required.” Rethinking transportation DLR described the approach as supermodality. Under the concept, the rail would serve as the backbone of the proposed transportation network. For example, a passenger pod could start its journey attached to a road carrier in a rural area. However after reaching a transport hub, the entire capsule could be automatically transferred onto a rail carrier. Multiple pods could then travel together by rail for the longer part of the journey before separating and returning to road-based carriers closer to their destinations. The pods for the transport of people and goods can be combined with different carrier units.Credit: Pods4Rail project group / moodley For the study, we did not just look at the vehicles required for such a concept,” Osebek stressed. “Other key aspects included how pods and carrier units could be connected to one another, as well as issues relating to automation.” The researchers also investigated whether cable cars could become another part of the network. This would potentially allow the same pods to move across three different modes of transportation. The approach could move more journeys onto energy-efficient railways while still offering the flexibility of road travel.” “Analyses of the necessary infrastructure and ideas for digital operating concepts rounded off the work,” Osebek said in a press release. The EU project benefited from the diverse expertise of its participants. More than travel The team also investigated safety standards and approval requirements for both road and rail transportation. They identified more than 20 potential applications and developed eight business scenarios for the technology. DLR noted that the technology’s potential uses range from on-demand passenger services on underused railway branch lines to parcel and express deliveries. The researchers even envision specialized pods serving as mobile medical facilities. With seamless transfers between multiple modes of transport, Pods4Rail aims to open up new possibilities in the mobility sector.Credit: Pods4Rail project group / moodley The concept got nearly USD 3.5 million (EUR three million) in funding through the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (ERJU) and Horizon Europe program. Future work will also need to address regulatory approval, economic viability, and integration with existing transportation infrastructure. At the same time, a DLR-led follow-up project called PREFER, short for Pods and Regional Flexible Efficient Rolling Stock, is expected to begin later this year and take the modular transportation concept into its next stage of development. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.