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When people think of automated guideway transit (AGT) systems, they typically think of fully driverless operations. Indeed, most AGT systems worldwide are known for their automatic, unmanned service—a hallmark of modern urban transit. However, Japan presents an intriguing exception. Despite being a technology-forward nation and an early adopter of driverless AGT systems, such as the Port Liner in Kobe and the New Tram in Osaka, Japan is also home to four AGT lines that are manually operated by human drivers: the Yūkarigaoka Line, the New Shuttle, the Leo Liner, and the Astram Line This is rare, even on a global scale. So why does a country known for precision automation still run some of its AGTs with drivers? The answer lies in a mix of safety concerns, infrastructure design, and cost management. For example, the Astram Line in Hiroshima runs partially underground. In the event of a fire or other emergency, it is crucial to have trained personnel on board to guide passengers to safety, which is a key reason the Astram Line opted for crewed operations. In contrast, the other three lines— Yūkarigaoka, New Shuttle, and Leo Liner—were designed on tight budgets. Rather than investing in the expensive signaling systems required for full automation, the operators chose a simpler approach: keeping the vehicles crewed while using the same guided track infrastructure. It’s important to note that these manually operated AGTs are highly safe. Each is equipped with modern train protection systems, such as ATS or ATC, which ensure operational safety comparable to that of driverless counterparts. As Japan and many other countries face growing challenges in recruiting enough train drivers, these lines may gradually transition to full automation.

If you're a fan of trains and urban transportation, you may have come across the term "AGT," short for "Automated Guideway Transit." At first glance, it might look like a monorail. In fact, I've even heard people call it that. However, while they may appear similar, AGTs and monorails are fundamentally different. Let me share a moment that sparked this blog. One day, while riding the Yurikamome— a well-known AGT line in Tokyo—I overheard a mother tell her child, "This is a straddle-type monorail." I didn't blame her. The Yurikamome is sleek, elevated, and rubber-tired, just like many monorails around the world. Technically, though, it’s not a monorail. So, what's the difference? A straddle-beam monorail, like the Tokyo Monorail, runs on a single, narrow concrete beam (around 80 cm wide), which the train straddles. In contrast, an AGT runs on a flat guideway similar in appearance to a highway lane, with the vehicle guided by side rails. This difference isn’ t just technical; it also affects safety. In an emergency, passengers on an AGT can evacuate on foot along the guideway. That’s not possible with a monorail because the narrow beam makes evacuation far more complex. In Japan, where AGTs have become a familiar part of urban transit, these distinctions often go unnoticed. The mother's comment made me wonder how many other people are unaware of what makes AGTs unique. It was that moment that led me to start this blog, where I share stories and insights about AGTs and their role in modern transportation. Have you ever ridden an AGT or confused it with a monorail? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences! Let's explore the world of AGTs together! Stay tuned for the next AGT blog!!

In recent years, extreme weather events have disrupted urban life around the world. In Japan, for example, torrential rains in July 2021 caused a tragic landslide in Atami, leaving many dead or injured. Just a month later, heavy rainfall in Hiroshima shut down nearly all public transportation, including the JR Kabe Line, streetcars, and buses. Amid this chaos, one system kept running: the Astram Line, an automated guideway transit (AGT) system operating in Hiroshima. Despite the adverse conditions, it maintained operations according to schedule. For Hiroshima residents, who still remember the devastating floods of 2014 that claimed 77 lives and severely damaged infrastructure, this reliability was not just impressive—it was deeply reassuring. Why is AGT so resilient? One reason is its elevated structure. Unlike buses, which often cannot pass through flooded underpasses, AGT lines run above ground and avoid many flood-prone areas.　This feature makes AGT a highly dependable option during heavy rains. In Tokyo, the Nippori-Toneri Liner, another AGT system, has stations that serve as emergency evacuation points for nearby residents during floods. Cities like Bangkok, which face regular flood threats, are adopting AGT systems as part of their climate-resilient urban planning. AGT is proving to be more than just a means of transportation; it is also a critical piece of urban infrastructure in the age of climate change. Its reliability in extreme weather makes it an attractive option for cities seeking mobility solutions that also address disaster preparedness. Stay tuned for the next AGT Blog!

The AGT Institute was established to inform the general public, as well as those involved in the transportation industry, about the appeal and features of AGT through a blog that reports on various topics related to AGT and a column that provides detailed information about AGT's features. About AGT Institute The AGT Institute was established by Masahisa Masukawa to promote knowledge of AGT not only among transportation professionals but also among the general public. In order for the general public to learn about AGT, I will publish a weekly blog on various topics related to AGT. In addition, I will publish a column every other month to inform the public about the features of AGT. I hope to answer your questions about AGT as much as possible.

This page introduces AGT features in a column format. Column 01 explains the features of AGT's dedicated guideway system. AGT column Tell me more about AGT Display the latest column articles №01 The Role of AGT in Urban Public Transport 2024/9/05 If the trains and buses you use to commute to work come every three minutes or every six minutes, it is obvious that every three minutes is better, right? In the case of buses, it is not only necessary to have the required number of buses so that they can operate every 3 minutes, but also to have enough drivers for the number of buses. In the case of trains, it is also necessary to have the required number of trains and the corresponding number of drivers. In the case of AGT, since it is fully automated and unmanned, there is no need to worry about securing and managing drivers, and the service can be provided according to demand. In addition to the problem of securing operators, AGT has an advantage in terms of construction costs compared to railroads. Public transportation in urban areas can be broadly classified into two categories: "track-based transportation," such as railroads, and "non-track-based transportation," such as buses and cabs. (Figure. 1) The "track-based transportation" is responsible for the fast and accurate movement of large numbers of users along the line, while the "non-track-based transportation" is ideally responsible for the surface movement based on the stations of the track-based transportation. The "track-based transportation" is further divided into "dedicated track system" and "non-dedicated track system". Before railroads were developed, buses were used to move the lines, but the economic loss caused by traffic congestion and inaccurate travel time became large, and "non-dedicated tracks" gradually became popular. Buses have been replaced by trains with "dedicated tracks". Although streetcars are "track systems," they are a type of "non-exclusive track system" that shares the road with buses and automobiles, and are therefore affected by accidents and traffic congestion in the same way as buses. There are three types of "dedicated track systems": aboveground, elevated, and underground. (Fig. 3) In cities, the presence of railroad crossings is a cause of accidents and traffic congestion, so above-ground tracks are unthinkable on the lines that will be constructed. Elevated tracks are also difficult to construct because of the difficulty of securing land, so subways must be used. AGT has the advantage of being able to use existing road space, making it easier to secure land for construction than railroads, and therefore less than one-third the cost of a subway. The Nippori-Toneri Liner runs on an elevated track over Okubashi-dori from Nippori Station to its terminus at Minuma Shinsui Koen Station. Since 1980, the AGT has been introduced as the main transportation system on the island connecting Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo man-made islands and land, such as Port Island, Rokko Island, Osaka Nanko, and Odaiba. AGT was introduced at Gion-dori in Hiroshima and Okubashi-dori in Tokyo to solve the problem of bus delays due to traffic congestion. Traffic congestion on Gion-dori in Hiroshima was reduced by 20%, from 3.2 km before AGT construction to 2.5 km after construction. You may be asking yourself, if AGT is so good, why aren't there more AGT lines? In Japan, where the population has been declining since 2009, with the exception of the Shinkansen bullet train, few major rail lines have been built since the last Tsukuba Express in 2005, and instead three types of system lines have been built to replace rail: AGT, monorail, and linear motor subway lines. (Figure. 4) Among AGT, monorail, and linear subway systems, AGT's low construction cost and fully automated, unmanned operation are key features. AGT, a dedicated track that effectively uses the airspace above existing roads and excels in safety, speed, and punctuality, is the leading urban transportation system in Ten AGT lines are in operation in Japan, and more than 500,000 people use them every day. Worldwide, there are 30 AGT routes for cities. One-third of these are in Japan, making Japan a major AGT country. コラム一覧へ戻る

AGT column Tell me more about AGT Display the latest column articles №09 AGTの軌道と道路の関係 2023/11/22 1．日本のAGTのルーツ 都会の道路の上方の空間を使って、地下鉄よりも少ないコストで高架専用軌道を建設するというコンセプトで開発されたのが日本のAGTです。 フランスのAGTは、地方都市の地下鉄を、トンネル径を小さくすることにより低コストで建設することをコンセプトとして開発され、レンヌ、トゥールーズ、リヨンの3都市に6路線の地下鉄が建設されています。 日本のAGT路線は、大きく分けて2種類の形態に分けることができます。 一つは、ポートライナー、六甲ライナー、ニュートラム、シーサイドライン、ゆりかもめ、ピーチライナーのような人工島や埋め立て地、そしてニュータウンなどと主要鉄道駅を結ぶ軌道系交通、もう一つは、酷い渋滞を引き起こしているバス路線を軌道系交通によって通勤通学の定時性、速達性を確保するための路線で、アストラムライン、日暮里・舎人ライナーがそれにあたります。 渋滞解消を目的とした路線は、渋滞を引き起こしている道路の中央分離帯に支柱を立ててその上に軌道が載っていますが、人工島や埋め立て地の路線は、道路だけでなく、公園や広場など総合的な都市計画に基づきルートが計画されているのが特長です。 ２．実路線のパターン化とその割合 日本では廃線になったピーチライナーを含めて全部で１１のAGT路線が建設されましたが、1985年開業の西武山口線は西武の遊園地、ゴルフコースに沿った路線であること、1983年開業のニューシャトルは新幹線と軌道構造を共有している点などからこの2路線は除外し、今回の検討の対象路線は全部で９路線としています。 軌道位置をパターン化すると、 １．自動車道の中央分離帯に柱を立て、その上に軌道を設置したもの ２．自動車道の片方の歩道の外側に柱を立て、その上に軌道を設置したもの ３．護岸工事がなされた川沿い、海岸沿いに柱を立て、その上に軌道を設置したもの ４．団地内、公園内、広場内に柱を立て、その上に軌道を設置したもの ５．専用の高架橋をもつもの 以上５パターンで駅間軌道数を数え比較した結果を表１に示します。 対象9路線の全駅間数は９９あります。そのうち中央分離帯に柱を立てて軌道を配置する（アストラムは３区間が地下）日本のAGTのコンセプトに沿った軌道は６１あり、６２％を占めます。その次に多いのが歩道脇に柱を立てて軌道を設置する方法で２２％を占め、合計で８４％が道路沿いに建設されていることがわかります。 ３．渋滞解消を目的とした路線 2008年に開業した日本で最も新しいAGTである日暮里・ 舎人ライナーは、前述したAGTのコンセプト通りに、尾久橋通りの中央分離帯の上に柱を立ててその上に13駅、9.7㎞の高架軌道が敷かれています。荒川を渡る区間だけ、専用の橋を建設したので尾久橋通りからそれますが、それ以外はコンセプト通りです。 １994年に開業した広島のアストラムラインも、起点の本通駅から中筋駅までの10駅、7ｋｍが祇園新道に沿って建設され、そのうち4駅が半地下を含む地下鉄、6駅が中央分離帯に柱を立ててその上に高架軌道を設置しています。　祇園新道を外れてからも、県道38号線上の上に高架軌道が置かれ、コンセプト通りの構造が続きます。 日暮里・舎人ライナーの尾久橋通りとアストラムラインの祇園新道は、長い間、朝晩の渋滞が激しく、バス便の定時性が問題となっていました。　AGTの開通により、酷い渋滞が解消され、通勤通学者にも定時性が確保されました。 ４．人工島、埋め立て地の路線 1981年、日本初のAGT、ポートライナーは、三宮沖に建設された海上都市ポートアイランドの主幹交通として当初から計画に織り込まれていた路線です。 陸側の三宮駅と貿易センタービル間は国道2号線の中央分離帯の上に柱を立てた高架軌道ですが、ポートアイランド内は幹線道路沿いに緑地帯、自動車道、AGT高架軌道を横に並べた余裕のあるレイアウトにしています。 ニュートラムは、全9駅間のうち6駅間が自動車道路の中央分離帯に柱を立てた高架としています。コスモスクエア駅側の２駅分が歩道の外側で、ポートタウン西駅と東駅間が団地内を横切るルートとなっています。 1991年に開業し、2005年に廃線となった桃花台線も、約7割が中央分離帯上の高架軌道ですが、団地側の約3割の区間が歩道沿いの高架となっています。 1995年開業のゆりかもめの埋め立て地側は、中央分離帯上に高架軌道を設け、合理性を優先したレイアウトになっています。 ５．道路と縁の薄い軌道 六甲アイランドの六甲ライナーの軌道は、起点の住吉駅から南魚崎駅間は、魚住川の川岸に柱を立てた高架軌道、島内は、細長い広場の中心に柱をたてて高架軌道と高架駅を建設し、道路と関連性の薄い路線が特徴的です。 横浜シーサイドラインは、道路沿い軌道の8駅間に対し、金沢八景側の5駅が海岸沿い2駅間、公園内3駅間と海との親和性の高い路線となっています。 ６．まとめ 9路線のAGTの路線と道路の関係を見てきましたが、六甲ライナーを除き、基本的に日本のAGTは道路に沿って路線が計画されています。 ポートライナーは、2006年に神戸空港までの延伸が行われ、ゆりかもめも2006年に豊洲まで延伸されました。　このように、道路がある限りAGT路線は延伸が可能なシステムです。 コラムi一覧へ戻る