Personal transportation system includes plurality of personal transportation vehicles (PTVs) driven on a track network with series of track sections. PTV main section has lateral width adapted to contain single occupant. PTV driving mechanism propels PTV and includes track engaging element protruding downwards from main section and having narrow lateral width such that main section is prone to fall over when PTV is at rest. The space between lateral width of main section and track engaging element can be occupied by public infrastructure. Each track section includes a ground portion, minimally adapted to accommodate track engaging element lateral width, and an empty space above ground portion, free of non-transient obstacles and minimally adapted to accommodate main section lateral width. A guidance mechanism guides PTV along track network and prevents PTV deviating from track sections. A stabilization mechanism stabilizes PTV along track network and prevents PTV from falling over when turning/merging/diverging.

Personal transportation system includes plurality of personal transportation vehicles (PTVs) driven on a track network with series of track sections. PTV main section has lateral width adapted to contain single occupant. PTV driving mechanism propels PTV and includes track engaging element protruding downwards from main section and having narrow lateral width such that main section is prone to fall over when PTV is at rest. The space between lateral width of main section and track engaging element can be occupied by public infrastructure. Each track section includes a ground portion, minimally adapted to accommodate track engaging element lateral width, and an empty space above ground portion, free of non-transient obstacles and minimally adapted to accommodate main section lateral width. A guidance mechanism guides PTV along track network and prevents PTV deviating from track sections. A stabilization mechanism stabilizes PTV along track network and prevents PTV from falling over when turning/merging/diverging.

A rapid transit system with wheel in track design includes a guideway, a vehicle that includes a vehicle bogie or chassis that couples to the guideway, and one or more terminals and/or intermediate stations. The guideway may include a first guideway and a second guideway, with a switch guideway interposed thereinbetween that allows the vehicle to move from the first guideway to the second guideway or vice versa. The vehicle may be coupled to the guideway via the vehicle bogie. The bogie may have a first axle, a second axle, and a third axle. First and second sets of guidewheels propel the vehicle forward or backward. The first set of switch wheels and/or the second set of switch wheels may be engaged and interact with one or more first or second neutral rails or first and second switch rails to move the vehicle from guideway to guideway.

A rail expansion device compensates for an expansion of a first rail with respect to a second rail. The rail expansion device joins the first rail to the second rail. The expansion device has a front connecting rail, containing a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end is configured for connecting to the first rail. A rear connecting rail, has a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is configured for connecting to the second rail. A splice joint is provided and configured for slidably connecting the rear end to the front end. The splice joint defines a continuous running surface from the front connecting rail to the rear connecting rail, wherein the continuous running surface has a variable longitudinal length configured for varying in function of a width of an expansion gap separating the front connecting rail from the rear connecting rail.

A rail expansion device compensates for an expansion of a first rail with respect to a second rail. The rail expansion device joins the first rail to the second rail. The expansion device has a front connecting rail, containing a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end is configured for connecting to the first rail. A rear connecting rail, has a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is configured for connecting to the second rail. A splice joint is provided and configured for slidably connecting the rear end to the front end. The splice joint defines a continuous running surface from the front connecting rail to the rear connecting rail, wherein the continuous running surface has a variable longitudinal length configured for varying in function of a width of an expansion gap separating the front connecting rail from the rear connecting rail.

A sawtooth station comprising a passenger waiting area; an autonomous vehicle area sized to allow autonomous vehicles to simultaneously travel in opposite directions of travel and turn around; and one or more sawtooth berths separating the passenger waiting area from the autonomous vehicle area, whereby autonomous vehicles traveling in opposite directions use the one or more sawtooth berths and the autonomous vehicles furthest from the one or more sawtooth berths can turn around in the autonomous vehicle area in order to stop at the one or more sawtooth berths.

A sawtooth station comprising a passenger waiting area; an autonomous vehicle area sized to allow autonomous vehicles to simultaneously travel in opposite directions of travel and turn around; and one or more sawtooth berths separating the passenger waiting area from the autonomous vehicle area, whereby autonomous vehicles traveling in opposite directions use the one or more sawtooth berths and the autonomous vehicles furthest from the one or more sawtooth berths can turn around in the autonomous vehicle area in order to stop at the one or more sawtooth berths.

Disclosed is a traffic system and method for motor vehicles (F), comprising, on the side of a traffic lane (12b, 12c), a dedicated track (21) in the form of a U-shaped gutter receiving, in a highly automated driving mode, one of the side wheel assemblies (16) of a vehicle, and comprising: a running surface (22) substantially parallel to the surface of the roadway of the traffic lane (12b, 12c), two side surfaces (23, 31) located on either side and above the running surface (22), one external (23) and the other internal (31) with respect to the footprint of the vehicle (F), the side surfaces (23, 31) being substantially perpendicular to the running surface (22), the internal side surface (31) maintaining the current ground clearance of the motor vehicles, wherein the side surfaces (23, 31) of the track are substantially continuous longitudinally and in that the system comprises a means for crossing the internal side surface (31) by lateral movement of the side wheels assembly (16) at sustained speed.

Disclosed is a traffic system and method for motor vehicles (F), comprising, on the side of a traffic lane (12b, 12c), a dedicated track (21) in the form of a U-shaped gutter receiving, in a highly automated driving mode, one of the side wheel assemblies (16) of a vehicle, and comprising: a running surface (22) substantially parallel to the surface of the roadway of the traffic lane (12b, 12c), two side surfaces (23, 31) located on either side and above the running surface (22), one external (23) and the other internal (31) with respect to the footprint of the vehicle (F), the side surfaces (23, 31) being substantially perpendicular to the running surface (22), the internal side surface (31) maintaining the current ground clearance of the motor vehicles, wherein the side surfaces (23, 31) of the track are substantially continuous longitudinally and in that the system comprises a means for crossing the internal side surface (31) by lateral movement of the side wheels assembly (16) at sustained speed.