Express train system

A train system, comprising:

• a first main track, passing each one of a plurality of geographically-separated passenger stations in a sequential order;
• a locomotive traveling at a controlled, pre-determined speed on the first main track;
• a plurality of passenger cars, each capable of individual locomotion and of automatic coupling and decoupling to other passenger cars and to the locomotive, each having passages that may be opened to allow passengers to move from car to car, and that may be closed to prevent passengers from moving from car to car, a portion of the plurality of passenger cars coupled to one another and to the locomotive, forming a train moving at the controlled, pre-determined speed on the first main track;
• side tracks at each passenger station joined to the main track by a first remotely-operable switch before and by a second remotely-operable switch after the associated passenger station, the side tracks each having a load/unload region at the associated passenger station;
• and
• a central computer system tracking the locomotive and all passenger cars, remotely switching the first and second remotely-operable switches at each passenger station, and managing locomotion of each passenger car while decoupled from the train;
• wherein the central computer system operates the first and second switches of a side track at a passenger station, decouples a last car of the train ahead of each passenger station and operates the first remotely operable switch to shunt the decoupled car onto the side track, resets the first switch after the decoupled car is on the side track, closes and accelerates a newly-loaded car from the load/unload region onto the main track after the train has passed the second switch, by operating the second switch, manages locomotion of the newly loaded car to join the train by coupling to the last car of the train, and manages locomotion of the decoupled car to decelerate gradually and stop at the load/unload station.