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General Personal Rapid Transit FAQ

What is PRT?
The best definition of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) is ‘a transport method that offers personal, on-demand non-stop transportation between any two points on a network of specially built guide-ways’. Other definitions (wrongly) include elements such as vehicle size and elevated construction of the guide-way at times. PRT-like applications deviate from this definition in one or more aspects.

How 'rapid' is Personal Rapid Transit?
There are many different PRT concepts - but mainly existing on paper. To date no 'true' PRT system has been installed, but PRT-like systems (such as Morgantown and the Floriade) have been realized. The systems vary in top speeds envisioned, but typically the 'rapid' part of the definition is meant as an indicator of total travelling time (time to a station, waiting at at station for transport and the transit time itself) instead of top speed. In the right configuration calculations and simulations show PRT could, relative to other forms of urban transit, achieve a shorter total travelling time.

What does a PRT system consist of?
A PRT system consists of vehicles, a supervisory (control) system and infrastructure. The vehicles and infrastructure might be the most visible part of the system, but in the end Personal Rapid Transit is all about (network) controls.

What are the advantages of a Personal Rapid Transit system?
Please refer to the PRT rationale on this website.

Why should a PRT system be considered for implementation?
Personal Rapid Transit combines the positive aspects of the personal car with the positive aspects of public transportation. It thus has many advantages to passengers. It will also have lower operational costs in comparison with a manually operated system with the same service level.

O.K. Sounds like PRT is the holy grail of transportation?
No. No system is the holy grail of transportation. Personal Rapid Transit is an alternative for transportation within dedicated areas or as a feeder system to existing (public) transportation systems. For every individual application it should be determined which system is the most applicable (please refer to concept applicability on this website).