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Title: AUTOMATING MOVEMENT OF FREIGHT
Accession Number: 00743670
Record Type: Component
Record URL: Availability: Find a library where document is available Abstract: A concept is introduced for a new mode of freight transportation in which general cargoes are "pumped" through underground or underwater pipelines. The concept itself is not new, but a recent technical breakthrough has transformed the technology to a point where tube freight could become a cost-effective alternative to surface freight, in particular, to truck and air freight. Although the study of this new mode is at the conceptual level only, the concept is based on an extensive body of knowledge, developed for pneumatic capsule pipelines for moving granular products, a well-proven technology backed by considerable operational experience. Tube freight has the potential to displace many long-haul trucks from U.S. highways. The principal driving forces are economics, safety, energy-conservation, and environmental impact. The system operates automatically under computer control, and deliveries are precisely predictable for meeting just-in-time production requirements. Preliminary studies suggest that tube freight is technically and economically feasible. The technology involved is state-of-the art and nothing new needs to be invented. The major obstacle to tube freight's implementation is that the concept is little known, and even less understood, by the transportation community.
Supplemental Notes: This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1602, Truck, Marine, and Intermodal Freight and Hazardous Materials Transportation.
Language: English
Corporate Authors: Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Authors: Vandersteel, WZhao, YLundgren, T SPagination: p. 71-76
Publication Date: 1997
Serial: ISBN: 0309062047
Features: Figures
(4)
; References
(9)
TRT Terms: Uncontrolled Terms: Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Pipelines; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities
Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
Created Date: Dec 17 1997 12:00AM
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