Posted on May 26, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

Plans are afoot to produce the world’s first road-rail vehicle in Japan.  Toyota and its affiliate Hino Motors Ltd is developing a new road-rail vehicle originally created by railway operator JR Hokkaido. 

The two companies are working together to come up with technology and materials to strengthen the front part of the “dual mode vehicle” so that it can carry up to 25 people safely. 

Several prototypes are currently being test-driven. 

The operator which runs railway services in the nation’s northern sland of Hokkaido has developed the vehicle as part of its plans to utilise railways that are now now out of service due to dwindling passenger numbers in the area.
The new vehicle will have four iron wheels for railroads and four rubber wheels for roads.  The vehicle is powered by diesel but is said to use only one fourth of the fuel used by conventional diesel powered cars. 

Commenting on the new invention, Kenichiro Baba, a Hino spokesman said:  “our contribution is expected to be another step toward practical use of the dual mode vehicle.”