Hybrid bus and train. It happens!
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Hybrid bus and train. It happens!

In 2021, Japanese designers created the world's first vehicle capable of running on railroad tracks and highways based on a Toyota minibus. Its name, DMV, literally means "dual-mode vehicle." Outwardly, this engineering marvel looks like an ordinary bus, but when changing wheels, it can become a carriage in 15 seconds. It was released as an experimental version for travel in hard-to-reach and sparsely populated areas. It runs on the Awa Kainan section in Tokushima Prefecture to Shishikui Onsen in Kochi Prefecture. This is where the famous Shishikui hot springs are located. In rail mode, the DMV travels along regular routes, and in bus mode, it travels through tourist and commercial areas.

The colorful and unusual mechanisms were very popular with passengers. There are only 18 seats in the carriage, so you should book a ticket in advance. Otherwise, all the seats may be occupied. The trip promises to be memorable: at different sections of the route, the process of changing wheels is accompanied by cheerful music. During the change, the conductor personally makes sure that everything went well. Surprisingly, right before your eyes, the asphalt road turns into a railway track. At this moment, it seems that the bus has grown legs! The wheels simply come out of the protective shell and go onto the rails. Its speed is low - about 60 km / h. You can admire the beautiful scenery throughout the trip. It has already been calculated that the economic effect of this development was more than 200 million yen. It is quite possible that soon the unique DMV will travel all over Japan. Many interesting facts from the world Transport can be seen in the video from the Itsuka Japan channel.
Why is it practical to choose DMV?
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