Current Status and Anticipated Future Use of Modern Underground Freight Transport System

A investigation is carried out on the underground freight transport(UFT) system, in which a strong interest grows in several developed country in recently years, so as to provide helpful suggestions to the development of metropolitan transportation in China. The concept and classification of UFT systems are firstly. Secondly, the history of UFT in developed country was introduced and the current status and innovations of UFT systems were given. Lastly, areas of application, potentials and anticipated future use of UFT systems were discussed. In conclusion, UFT systems will be very efficient to the improvement of urban transportation, and the effects and potentials of building UFT systems will be as follows:promotion of travel speed and efficiency; reduction of urban environmental pollution; reduction of traffic congestion and improvement of freight accessibility; and less covering of urban areas and promotion of sustainable development; and promotion of freight distribution productivity and reduction of freight transport and storage cost. It may be a strategy researching and developing area to implement UFT systems in metropolises in China. Building UFT systems will be a new idea to solve future transport problems.