Project Envisions Modular Aircraft That Double as Train Cars 146
cylonlover writes "Air travel today is a nightmare of long drives to crowded airports, long queues that move at a snail's pace, and long, boring waits in identical lobbies drinking overpriced coffee. It would be so much easier and less frustrating if catching a plane were like catching a train. If Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has its way, its Clip-Air project will one day produce modular aircraft that will allow you to board a plane at a London railway station and disembark in the middle of Rome without ever setting foot in an air terminal."
Bloody idiots (Score:3, Informative)
The queues are there for a reason: To create the impression of safety. How are you going to do that if anyone can plant something on the "plane" while it's waiting in a train station? If you go through with this plan, you won't make air travel more convenient, you'll inconvenience train travelers.
Re:just like on tv (Score:4, Informative)
citation - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec2i9sr6vRs&t=3m9s [youtube.com] ;)
Re:bad idea (Score:5, Informative)
That's sad, because it's already on its way. It's just a matter of time before a government agent will be asking for "your papers" no matter how you travel in the US.
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/tsa-does-surprise-check-at-lamar-amtrak [kxan.com]