World’s First Dual-mode Vehicle (DMV) for Railway Tracks and Roads to Run in Japan

Japan: A Dual mode bus that can run on both roads and railway tracks is scheduled to start service this month in the Shikoku region in Japan.

The vehicle that is planned to get operational next month will be the world’s first operational dual-mode vehicle (DMV), reported Kyodo News. The bus will travel on a 50-kilometre route and connect Kaiyo in Tokushima and Muroto in the Kochi Prefecture, of which 10 km will be on a railway track.

Asa Seaside Railway Corporation in Tokushima Prefecture said it will roll out the DWV vehicles on December 25.

Three buses will be in operation and 23 passengers will be able to ride on the bus alongside the crew.

The DMV is a diesel-powered bus that has been fitted with an extra set of wheels on the undercarriage, which can be deployed in about 15 seconds to make it capable of traveling on railway tracks.

The Tokushima Prefectural Government, which has a 35% stake in Asa Seaside Railway, said it hopes the DMV will become a tourist draw and help boost the local economy, which, like much of Japan, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The company is also 10% owned by the Kochi Prefectural Government.

The vehicles may also be useful in natural disasters such as earthquakes, which may leave sections of roads or railway tracks unusable.

The DMV is lighter than a traditional train, which, according to the company, means it requires less fuel and is easier to maintain. Hokkaido Railway Co. developed its own version in 2004 but did not bring it into operation, in part due to financial difficulties.

The vehicle shifts from bus mode to train mode, or vice versa, at the two stations. The operator will start accepting online advance reservations on Dec. 2.