Vol. 50 No. 4 (2013)   Technologies that Underlie Urban Transportation Systems
New Products

People-friendly, Eco-friendly Next-generation Tram (Light Rail Vehicle)

LandTransportation Systems Business Department
Business & Marketing Division
Commercial Aviation & Transportation Systems

The LRV (Light Rail Vehicle), which takes advantage of a tramway's characteristics such as ease of use, zero emissions and high energy efficiency, has evolved its user‐friendliness and is attracting attention as a next‐generation method of daily transportation for urban residents. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) developed an independent wheel bogie that is essential in the implementation of a 100% low‐floor, barrier‐free LRV and delivered the first domestic fully‐flat 100% low‐floor LRV, the Green Mover Max, to Hiroshima Electric Railway Co., Ltd. together with Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd. and Toyo Denki Seizo K.K. in the U3 Project in 2005. MHI has delivered the "JTRAM R" (called 1000‐series Vehicle in Hiroshima), which carries on the barrier‐free characteristics of Green Mover Max while having a smaller length. This document presents an overview of the new system.