CALSTART, CyberTran Roll Out New Concept in Automated Rapid Transit; Clean, Low-Cost, Flexible Transit Concept Begins Operational Test Phase at Project Hatchery Alameda Site.

ALAMEDA POINT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1998--CyberTran, a new concept in automated rapid transit, Wednesday began operational testing of its novel approach to clean, low-cost and flexible rail transportation along one mile of new test track at Alameda Point.

The streamlined, 38-foot CyberTran vehicle and its track are testing a much larger concept: a computer-controlled, rider-responsive transportation system that is designed to complement and support existing transit as well as function independently.

The test is a development project of CALSTART -- the advanced- transportation consortium -- together with the Federal Transit Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

"The need for both speed and personal flexibility has never been greater in our society, yet these are the very attributes that traditional transit is hardest pressed to provide," said Michael J. Gage, president and chief executive officer of California-based CALSTART.

"CyberTran is a worthy concept because it bridges the gap between the efficiency of rail and the need for more personalized service, and can therefore encourage transit use. We helped launch this program to test that premise."

The CyberTran system -- conceived at the Idaho National Engineering and Environment Laboratory (INEEL) -- would consist of hundreds of independent, electrically powered rail vehicles operating along a "network" of stations.

A passenger entering any station could "call" a vehicle by swiping a "smart card" at a system map and entering a destination. Utilizing a highly intelligent set of computer-controlled switches, an available car would travel directly to the passenger's station and then proceed to the selected destination with a minimum number of intermediate stops.

The current project is testing the proof-of-concept for the high-speed switches needed in this system. Once complete, the next step could be a passenger demonstration phase, potentially in California.

"CyberTran brings together all of the leading-edge technologies that enable transit to work for people," said Dr. John Dearien, CEO of CyberTran International.

"This is the future: a transit system that is faster than a car and more direct, one that is so clean and whose stations are so compact they can even be located inside high-rise office buildings, out of inclement weather," remarked Richard Arthur, CyberTran's president. "This can serve as a tremendous 'feeder system' to existing transit -- and can be independent as well."

The lighter weight and smaller size of the CyberTran vehicles simplify the construction of guideways and power systems, while also lowering their cost -- by as much as 75 percent compared with traditional light-rail designs. CyberTran also requires less right-of-way space and permits the construction of passenger-loading stations at more -- and consequently more convenient -- locations.

"The proximity of this test project to the Silicon Valley is no coincidence," added Gage. "The area's real-world experience in computerized, high-technology solutions makes it a natural for the development phase of the CyberTran project."

CALSTART is a California-based advanced-transportation organization that focuses on developing new, clean technologies and solutions in transportation. Working with private partners worldwide, CALSTART provides technology development and demonstration, industry analysis, business development and fleet implementation services.