Illustration by Kevin Hand Finally, technology has found a solution to the bloody bus-versus-train commuter wars. Built in Japan by JR Hokkaido, this so-called dual-mode vehicle rides on rubber tires until it reaches a designated rail line. Then — bam! — steel wheels drop from the undercarriage, the front tires lift up, and the rig is ready to roll on tracks. The whole transformation takes about 15 seconds. The Japanese regional railroad is testing three of these 25-passenger transformers on a tourist line in northeastern Japan. They cost less to maintain and fuel than a conventional train, and, in theory, they're perfect for areas where declining populations have turned rail lines into money losers.
Start Previous: What Is He Doing? Snippets from Evan Williams' Twitter Stream Next: Tattooists Behold the Latest Lightweight Ink Rig
