INTERNATIONAL: The world’s first operational dual-mode vehicle capable of running on roads and railway tracks is set to enter service this Christmas day in the Shikoku region.

Asa Seaside Railway in Tokushima Prefecture has said it will roll out the DWV vehicles on December 25 having cleared safety checks by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The vehicles will run on a 50-kilometer course connecting the town of Kaiyo in Tokushima Prefecture and the city of Muroto in Kochi Prefecture, of which 10 kilometres will be on a railway track. Three will be in operation, each with a capacity of 23 passengers and 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, has 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 has developed its own version in 2004 but did not bring it into operation, in part due to financial difficulties.

Asa Seaside Railway had initially planned for the DMV to enter service in time for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics but had to push back those plans after the transport ministry instructed it in June to reinforce welding on the arm holding the retractable wheels.

Earlier this month a technical panel at the ministry reviewed the test results using the upgraded parts and gave the green light for the vehicle to go into operation.