Japanese experiment with combination bus/train

Experiments in Japan with dual-mode vehicle (DMV) technology are yielding promising results. JR Hokkaido has been installing a dual wheel train-tyre system on microbuses so that they can be used as both road and light rail transport.The use of the vehicles on congestion-free railway tracks makes rail transport far more viable, with the cost of remodeling a microbus being approximately 10% ofthe cost for ordinary train cars and as weight is also around 10%, railway tracks require less maintenance. Commercial systems are planned for market by 2007.