There has been increasing interest in automated networks using small vehicles during the last several years. Such systems can provide a high level of passenger service with a comparably lower investment, potentially making them an attractive alternative to other technologies such as people-movers, monorails, etc. The subject matter of this discourse expands upon design considerations relating to capacity for such automated small vehicle systems, often called Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). Vectus has operated a test track with three vehicles in Uppsala, Sweden, since 2007. To verify performance in a larger system, an emulator was developed which runs the actual safety-validated control software including all communications and the complete operator interface. The hardware in the system, vehicles, propulsion, platform doors, ticketing, etc., are emulated with very detailed and calibrated software models. In this way several uncertainties for accuracy and real-life representation associated with the use of simulations is removed. The emulations show that high capacity can be achieved, but more importantly, there are several other factors (other than the control system) that have a significant impact on performance. It is imperative that all factors are properly considered in the system design in order to achieve high capacity – factors that many simulations may not account for in an accurate way.