Autran Passenger Stations and Cabins

When you go to a passenger station, you will usually find a number of eight-passenger cabins that are along a platform (dark grey) and that are supported on carrier vehicles in a guideway (light grey). At least the lead cabin will be in an open condition as shown with a top structure thereof swung upwardly. If you are in a wheel chair, you may enter in front of the front seat after lifting the seat portion (yellow) thereof. If not, you may take any empty seat, including the front seat if no person on a wheel chair is seeking to enter. After taking a seat, you may insert a credit card into an entry unit (red) that is ahead of your seat and follow instructions displayed by the unit, to enter your destination. After one minute from the time the first passenger enters a destination or after eight have entered their destinations, whichever is earlier, the top structure will start a closing operation that will be completed if and when the path of the structure is clear.

Loading stations of the system are designed to insure that passengers will be on their way in minimum time while also having a high loading rate. Empty cabins are moved from a main guideway to an entrance end of a queue. The cabins can preferably be moved from an exit end of the queue and into a loading region in groups of four or more, all cabins of the group being opened to permit people to enter them at the same time. However, the cabins do not move out in a group or platoon but move out one by one as they are loaded, each being carried on a vehicle that will maintain a safe following distance behind a vehicle ahead. After all cabins of a group have moved out, another group then moves in and opens for loading. 960 passengers may be loaded during a rush hour, allowing an average of two minutes for moving and loading a group of four eight-passenger cabins.

Unloading regions must be separate from loading regions since a region that is ahead of a queue of empty vehicles cannot be used for unloading. Unloading and other operations that may take place after you enter a cabin and it has been closed are discussed in "Autran Passenger Cabin in Closed Condition" .

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