The Tracked Hovercraft was an attempt at a new type of high speed train. It combined the hovercraft and linear induction motor to lift a train a short distance above a specially built track or guideway. This was more efficient as rolling resistance was largely eliminated. A research team worked on the Tracked Hovercraft project in the 1960s, this team later falling under the National Physical Laboratory. British Rail showed little interest in the project, by now concentrating on the
Advanced Passenger Train.
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RTV 31 at Railworld
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| Information |
| Number built: |
1 |
| Built: |
1972 |
| Builder: |
Tracked Hovercraft |
| Motor: |
Linear induction motor |
Work on a test train and track began in 1970 in Cambridgeshire. A 6.4 km track was built and in 1973 the test vehicle
Rail Test Vehicle (RTV) 31 managed to travel at just over 100 mp/h (167 km/h) on the test track. On the full length planned test track, which would have been 32 km long, it was thought the train could go 300 mp/h (480 km/h). As can be seen from the photographs, the RTV 31 did not use conventional tracks rather an elevated single track.
However, the project was by now under threat due to political and budgetary pressures. BR was going ahead with the APT (which used existing tracks) and was also looking into
Maglev, which used a similar concept to the Tracked Hovercraft. Funding for the project was cancelled in 1973 as it was thought the project would not be ready for real world use until the 1980s at the earliest and would require a dedicated rail network. RTV 31 survived the cancellation and since 1996 has been preserved at Railworld in Peterborough along with a short section of track.
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Despite appearances the RTV 31 did not carry any passengers
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Side view of RTV 31
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The hovercraft lifting pads can be seen behind the tow bar
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