With the buffer out of the way, a carrier vehicle can then start carrying the illustrated platform together with you and your car in a forward direction out of the loading station and toward your selected destination station to be unloaded. (See Unloading Operation). At the same time, another carrier vehicle can move the new platform forwardly from under the entrance section and to the receiving position. Then the buffer is rotated to move it down and inwardly while lowering the forward end of the entrance section.
The loading process can then be repeated. The buffer can be moved to a position determined by the measured length of a new car driven onto the entrance section. Then the gate can be opened and the new car can then be driven from entrance section and onto the new platform.
The time required for loading each car will depend upon the driver but may average 30 seconds so that 120 cars per hour per lane may be loaded. With ten lanes, 1200 cars may be loaded during a rush hour.
The "cars" and "autos" referred to should be understood as including light vans, SUVs and other vehicles weighing less than a certain maximum weight which may be 5000 pounds, for example. The maximum weight is desirably low to limit the cost of guideway construction.
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