Atmostrack and the Environment

Among all forms of powered transport Atmostrack has the greenest credentials. Its super-efficient low energy demands and usage combine with minimal impact upon the natural world to provide a system that is supremely friendly to the environment whilst still possessing the great benefits of safety, reliability comfort and convenience.

Transport in all its forms is a major consumer of the world's oil reserves. Existing stocks are finite and are being rapidly depleted. The rate at which new resources are being discovered is sharply declining. When this is taken together with the atmospheric pollution problems caused by the use of oil for road, rail and air as well as marine pollution caused by tanker disasters, it is clear that a solution needs to be sought urgently. Atmostrack provides this solution by breaking the link between transport and oil. The stationary trackside power units enable the use of renewable energy sources such as wind, water, wave, tidal, biomass, solar, geothermal etc.

It is acknowledged that road vehicle emissions are responsible for a major part of atmospheric pollution. By providing a low cost, flexible, reliable, demand driven alternative service for both passengers and freight Atmostrack has the potential to remove a substantial volume of traffic from the roads.

The unique configuration of Atmostrack using the wing-in-ground effect enables it to operate at very high speeds in complete safety. This allows the system to offer city centre to city centre times equal to or even better than those achieved by air travel at much lower cost and greater convenience. By so doing the demand for air services will be significantly reduced with a reduction in emission and noise pollution by aircraft. The requirement for additional airport capacity will also be removed.

Building Atmostrack is fast and cost effective,consisting principally of erecting the pylons and installing the pre-formed spanning track sections between them. The drive line and mains are dual purpose, serving both as operating system and structural components. There is no underlying infrastructure required. Being non-gradient sensitive Atmostrack requires little or no earth movement or construction such as embankments, cuttings, tunnels or viaducts. What gradient adjustments are needed can be done by varying the height of the pylons. Pumping stations can be sited underground to minimise their environmental impact. The actual construction process is very fast with very little disturbance to the land over which it passes.

The small footprint of the pylon elevated track makes very little demand upon land, requiring only the bases for the pylons and the occasional pumping stations. Agriculture and natural life can continue uninterrupted below the track which presents no continuous barrier as do road and rail. This puts an end to the toll of dead and injured wildlife seen upon roads and railways. By enclosing the elevated track with netting tunnels in sensitive areas bird strikes on high speed vehicles can be prevented. Atmostrack is almost silent and is totally fume free. Trees and woodland can be allowed to grow right up to the track since leaves on the line are no problem.

The major earthworks associated with road construction cause serious disruption to natural water flow, requiring carefully designed alternative drainage and culverts. Because of the fast shedding of rainwater from road surfaces it is necessary to include devices such as surge ponds to slow down the drainage and avoid flash flooding. The pylon based construction of Atmostrack allows it to be applied to the landscape with absolutely no disturbance to existing natural water courses and drainage ditches.
An additional bonus of the Atmostrack system is that the track can be used over farm land to collect rainwater before it hits the ground so being free of agricultural chemicals and pollution.