Small electric cabins balancing on a single rail using gyroscopic technology could soon link rural communities in Ireland and Germany by repurposing disused railway tracks.
Living in the countryside often means planning daily life around distances, with doctors, shops, workplaces, and schools located across different towns and villages served by infrequent bus services.
This led to the development of small, autonomous, battery-electric cabins that balance on a single rail using gyroscopic technology.
The goal is to free adults in rural households from needing to keep their own car just to participate in everyday life, reducing household costs and giving greater independence to people who rely on others for lifts. Proponents call this mobility justice: the idea that the opportunity to participate in society should depend less on whether someone owns a car or is able to drive, ensuring leaving a rural area remains a choice rather than a necessity.
This approach aligns with the European Commission’s “Right to Stay” strategy launched in May 2026, which relies on the premise that people should not be forced to leave their communities due to a lack of local employment, education, healthcare, or essential infrastructure.
The transport concept aims to rethink and reconnect existing public assets rather than building everything from scratch, conserving resources and making further use of public investment. Försterling noted technical, economic, and regulatory challenges must be addressed before passenger services can begin, saying mobility should adapt to the people living in rural communities rather than expecting people to adapt their lives to the transport system.
