Three Extreme High-Speed Rail Concepts for Las Vegas

Las Vegas developers hear proposals for new transportation methods to hook up visitors from LA

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 10.23.2009 at 11:15 am 8 Comments

Cars to Trains: Who needs roads? AVT

Slot machine junkies and poker sharks could soon ride one of three futuristic high speed trains from Los Angeles to casino mecca Las Vegas. But that's assuming developers get on board with a tubular rail, a maglev transporter for cars, or an air-cushioned train.

Boosters for the unusual transportation modes made their pitches at a forum held by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas this past Monday, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Thread the O-Ring: O-rings for high speed trains could represent huge cost savings compared to traditional rail. Tubular Rail Inc.

The Tubular Rail concept would work as a single rigid train that threads the needle through elevated support rings. Each train would have guidance rails, and would keep in contact with the electric motors on at least three rings at all times, to reach speeds of up to 150 mph.

Such O-ring pillars would supposedly represent a huge cost savings compared to laying traditional rail. Robert Pulliam, the Houston resident behind the idea, has assembled a coalition of developers and companies to realize his vision, and hopes to raise $30 million for a two or three mile test track.

A second concept by Californian Frank Randak, called AVT SolaTrek, would take cars off highways and load them onto moving maglev trains. The cars first get onto an automated shuttle vehicle that speeds up to match a moving train, and then load onto the train via conveyor belt. Passengers can then leave their cars to check in with private entertainment compartments.

A third idea called America's Sunlight Bullet Expressway would combine a nationwide network of electric trains with guideways that could also hold transmission lines. The trains themselves would resemble air-cushioned vehicles, and could theoretically carry up to 1,400 passengers at speeds of up to 500 mph.

We at PopSci enjoy our far-out transportation schemes, and so it should be interesting to see if any developers take a gamble on pushing for some test builds.

[Las Vegas Sun via The Register]

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8 Comments

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Thefty

10/23/09 at 12:07 pm

The Tubular Rail concept is very cool (and would be a blast to watch pass by) but the skeptic in me worries that the train won't be stiff enough to keep its nose up. If I understand it correctly, the nose of the train has to maintain its exact height in order to "thread the needle" of the next ring. What's the tolerance for movement of the train's nose? What if it vibrates or flexes enough to be off the mark, and slams into the ring instead of passing through it?

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blaxpear

10/23/09 at 12:38 pm

Tubular Rail concept sounds like something a 3rd grader would come up with. The added cost to make those trains stiff enough to actually work like the concept would by far outway any perceived savings from not laying track. Those O rings spaced close enough to support the train will cost more than track. No way it's gonna be cheaper.

The car shuttle idea is a bit far-out and uneccessary. Just make a simple high speed train that can shuttle people comfortably and reliably. Better yet, just buy the french TGV and be done with it.

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coolnezz

10/23/09 at 2:32 pm

ugly looking train.
stick with proven design/technology like the shinkansen, tgv, ice, ktx, shanghai maglev.

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dewman46

10/23/09 at 3:12 pm

how does this train turn? or would it just be a straight shot from LA to Vegas?

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poopshoop

10/23/09 at 11:58 pm

another cool idea but im almost positive we're not going to see any of these EVER. I'm for installing the aforesaid TGV or some other type of bullet or maglev trains that'll just take us places faster. Hopefully they'll be cheaper and environmentally friendly

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wowlfie

10/24/09 at 9:57 am

Why not just put people inside 10 foot billiard balls and shoot them at thousands of miles per hour inside vacuum tubes from point A to point B? Most people would pay just for the thrill......

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darkwolf361

10/24/09 at 10:07 pm

That O-ring tec looks really cool! :)

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AlBme

10/27/09 at 7:19 pm

Far-out is absolutely right!

Look, there already is proven technology being used in Japan and Europe with trains that travel upwards of 260 MPH. Why reinvent the wheel?

The Tubular Rail will take far too long to develop -- that's if it's even a viable concept! The rings would have to be much much closer than the painting shows. What if you have to stop the train, or a malfunction causes it to stop in the middle of nowhere? Will it sag? How do you then start it up again?

AVT SolaTrek does not solve the main motivation behind building the high speed rail -- energy efficiency and conservation. Why not just drive to the damned depot and load your car while the train is -- you know -- stopped? Use a special shuttle, which you have to drive to anyway, to accelerate and catch up with a moving train? Why bother? That idea is DOA.

The third idea actually is the only quasi-sensible one in the bunch. Most of the technology has already been developed. However, it may be a bit too ambitious.