Michele Tarozzi, The European Automated Light Metros, April 2004
(paper published on Inarcos, n. 653, October 2004)
ABSTRACT
Among the recent mass rapid transport European applications, Automated People Movers (APM) have an important role. Thanks to the light infrastructures and to the high frequencies (which allow short stations and vehicles), they have an easier urban insertion in many hystorical towns. This paper analizes the cases of the most important existing (Lille VAL, Lyon Line D, Copenaghen M1 Line, Toulouse Line A, Rennes Line 1) or planned (Brescia, Lausanne, Turin, Bologna) APM European systems.


Michele Tarozzi, The European modern tramways and LRT systems, June 2005
(paper published on Le Strade, n. 1410, September 2005)
ABSTRACT
Since 1980, European modern tramway and LRT systems had many successfull applications. Thanks to the track protection (traffic light priority at the crossroads or, in many cases, central underground sections) which minimizes the road traffic segments, these systems joins remarkable commercial speeds (against classical tramway lines) with lower costs than underground light metros (20 M Euro/km vs. 70 M Euro/km). This paper analizes the cases of some of the most important existing modern tramway and LRT lines (Barcelona, Bordeaux, Charleroi, Dublin, Lyon, Messina, Nantes, Oporto, Strasbourgh).


Michele Tarozzi, Tram-on-tyres: the European first applications, July 2005
(paper published on Le Strade, n. 1415, March 2006)
ABSTRACT
In the last years some European towns invested in innovative tram-on-tyres infrastructures. These systems are based on different kinds of guide technology (mechanical like Bombardier GLT and Translohr, optical like Irisbus Civis, magnetical like APTS Phileas). Reversibility is one of the most important tram-on-tyres features: all these vehicles can switch from tram-like (with guide) or bus-like mode, in order to circumvent obstacles along the route. The very light infrastructure allows interesting cost reductions, even if the system capacity is reduced against classical tramways (with steel wheels). This paper analizes the main European applications (Caen, Nancy, Eindhoven, Clermont Ferrand, Rouen, Padova, Mestre, L'Aquila, Bologna, Douai).


Michele Tarozzi, Trasporti urbani a monorotaia, Marzo 2006 (paper published on Le Strade, n. 1418, June 2006 - only in Italian)
[click here to download the article - zipped PDF, KB 1406]
ABSTRACT
Monorail systems offer remarkable cinematic performances (low horizontal radius, high vertical gradient) with a low enviromental impact, thanks to the light infrastructures and to the viaduct solution: monorails, for all this reasons, have many applications in amusement centers (Disneyland, Mirabilandia, etc), parks, zoo and tertiary high tech districts. From years '80s many urban applications have been developed; many of these systems are fully automated (APM) and this feature tends to became a rule.
This paper analizes the main monorail technologies (suspended or SAFEGE, Alweg, Steel-Box), the innovative tendencies (MAGLEV) and the most remarkable European (Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Moscow) and worldwide applications (US: Seattle, Tampa, Jacksonville, Newark, Las Vegas; JAPAN: Chiba, Osaka, Tama and Naha; AUSTRALIA: Broadbeach and Sidney; CHINA: Shenzen, Chongqing; MALAYSIA: Kuala Lumpur, Sunway City, Putrajaya;INDONESIA: Jakarta). [downloads 371]

Luigi Di Giovanni, Orestad: the driverless Metro and the new city, 2006 (in English)
[click here to download the article - zipped PDF, KB 161]
ABSTRACT
The strategic development of Orestad area (Copenaghen) has been planned together with the construction of the automated metro system. The paper analyzes this interesting and successful experience. [downloads 243]

Michele Tarozzi, Tram-train: perspectives and criticities, September 2007
(paper published on Le Strade, n. 1432, November 2007)
ABSTRACT
After the first experience in Karlsruhe (1992), many European towns planned similar transport systems, in order to minimize the times of dispacement reducing vehicle changements and to optimize the costs of construction using or re-using existing railway infrastructures.
The perspectives of tram-train systems have been analized showing the main advantages of this technology (on one side) and the main criticities due to technical and normative reasons (on the other side), starting from some real experiences of complex "trak-sharing" or "joint-use" applications (Karlsruhe, Saarbrucken, Chemnitz, Leiden, Nordhausen, Strasbourgh, Alacant, Liberec and, potentially, Sassari), simplier railway recovery or re-use applications (Manchester, Paris-T4, Bergamo, Cagliari) and a completely opposite case in comparison to the original Karlsruhe model (train-tram in Zwickau).

Michele Tarozzi, Driverless transport systems in the European Airports, October 2007
(paper published on TP Trasporti Pubblici, n. 2 year XXIV, February 2008)
ABSTRACT
The constant developement of many European airports and their physical expansion brought the necessity of efficient connections between different terminals and easy links to intermodal exchange points (airport railway stations, parking areas).
The main features requerred to this kind of service are high availability standards and continuous service during the day (in some cases 24 hours no-stop service), which can be efficently and cheaply assured by automated transport systems without drivers and fixed operators on vehicles and in the stations. This paper analize the most remarkable recent European experiences of dedicated (London Gatwick, Paris Orly, London Stansted, Frankfurt Rhein-Main-Airport, Rome Leonardo da Vinci, Dusseldorf International Airport, Zurich International Airport, Birmingham International Airport, Paris Roissy, Madrid Barajas International Airport, London Heatrow) and urban systems (Nurnberg Flughafen, London City Airport, Copenhagen Lufthavnen, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi).

Michele Tarozzi, Bologna People-Mover, February 2008
(paper published on Quarry and Construction, n. 544 year XLVI, April 2008)
ABSTRACT
The high-speed railway station next opening and the growth of G. Marconi Airport (due to important investments such us the airstrip lengthening) are the main reasons of the development of the People-Mover project, connecting these 2 terminals with an intermediate stop at Lazzaretto new universitary quarter. This paper decribes the infrastructure and its approving procedures.

Michele Tarozzi, Bologna Metrotram, March 2008
(paper published on Le Strade, n. 1438, June 2008)
ABSTRACT
Bologna bases its future public displacements plans on the so called Metrotram, a guided mass transport infrastructure connecting Fiera District, the railway station, the urban center, Ospedale Maggiore (the main hospital) and, in a further phase, Borgo Panigale suburb. Other future developments are considered, such as CAAB/Agraria and Lazzaretto extensions. This paper decribes the infrastructure and its approving procedures.

Michele Tarozzi, The 'wireless' trams, December 2008
(paper published on Le Strade, n. 1444, January-February 2009)
ABSTRACT
The overhead power collection is one of the most critic features concerning the urban insertion of the modern tram lines. This paper decribe some recent alternative solutions (Alstom APS, Bombardier Primove, hybrid systems, etc.) and their applications in the European towns.

Michele Tarozzi, Urban guided mass transit: the different choices, November 2008
(paper published on TP Trasporti Pubblici, n. 2 year XXV, February 2009)
ABSTRACT
In Europe there are currently more than 500 different Urban guided mass transit systems, that could be classiffied in specific categories (metros, LRT, standard trams, tram on tyres, tram-train, driverless metros/APM, monorails, cable systems). This papers analyzes the recent trends and some interesting features about their localization (concerning urban demography, urban rank, etc.).

Michele Tarozzi, Guided transport systems and accidentalness, November 2009
, (paper published on Le Strade, n. 1454, January-February 2010)
ABSTRACT
In Europe there occurs every year about 9000-10000 accidents related to mass transport systems (including urban systems, such as metros and tramways), with about 1500 casualties. This papers analyzes recent trends in accidentalness, proposing a classification and tryng to deduct some invariants.