Railways and lifts for personal rapid transit systems

A railway, comprising:

• a first pair of main rails extending in a first direction;
• a second pair of main rails extending in a second direction, wherein the second pair of main rails intersect the first pair of main rails, wherein a first portion of the second pair of main rails is non-continuous with a second portion of the second pair of main rails, and wherein the first pair of main rails is disposed between the first and second portions of the second pair of main rails;
• and
• a plurality of connecting rails, wherein each connecting rail extends between one of the first pair of main rails and an adjacent one of the second pair of main rails, and wherein the connecting rails do not cross over any of the first pair of main rails or second pair of main rails.

A method of operating a railway, the method comprising:

• moving a first vehicle along a first main rail in a first direction;
• directing the first vehicle into a first secondary rail angled relative to the main rail;
• moving the first vehicle into a first lift rail connected with the first secondary rail;
• and
• changing a position of the first vehicle and lift rail.

A method of operating a railway, the method comprising:

• moving a first vehicle along a first main rail in a first direction;
• moving a second vehicle along the first main rail in the first direction spaced behind the first vehicle by a time and/or distance interval;
• determining the interval between the first and second vehicle;
• directing the first vehicle into a first rail angled relative to the main rail while moving in the first direction if the interval is below a threshold interval;
• and
• directing the first vehicle to stop, move along the main rail in a second direction opposite the first direction, and move into a second rail angled relative to the first main rail if the interval is greater than the threshold interval.