China tests first driverless Rail Rapid Transit system
The world’s first rail-less train started trial operations in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province on Tuesday, reports Chinese media Guancha.
The train, called Autonomous Rail Transit (ART), was developed by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd., which produces key parts for China's high-speed railway system. The ART is approximately 9 metres long, has a top speed of 70 kilometres per hour and a range of 25 kilometres per 10-minute battery charge. It can carry 300-500 passengers in its three-to-five car configurations.
According to the CRRC, the train is equipped with sensors that can work out road dimensions and plan its own route - essentially acting as a virtual rail.
ART is cheaper to build than ordinary subway tracks, which cost about 400m-700m yuan (US$60m-106m) per kilometre in China. Furthermore, it requires just one-fifth of the investment required to construct electric tram systems, which typically require an outlay of 150m-200m yuan (around US$22m-30m) per kilometre.
The world’s first ART line has a total length of 3.1 kilometres and is 3.75 metres wide. Four stops, at intervals of 800-900 metres, have been installed along the route.
Initially, three ARTs are being tested, with the new system set to go into operation during the Spring Festival of 2018.
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