Why are we spending so much money on the current tram system when we could go with this Chinese system? Trees, roadways and everything don’t need to be ripped up for these.
(From Travel Tomorrow) China’s trackless trams could revitalize city suburbs. They’re a cross between light rail and a city bus. They run on rubber tires instead of tracks but the ride is smoother than a bus due to stabilizing technology. The system is currently in use in the Chinese cities of Zhuzhou, Yibin and Yancheng.
The trams are called Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) and are guided by the same technology as self-driving cars and instead of using overhead wires for power they top up their own batteries at each station stop.
Trackless trams are up to 10 times cheaper to build than a conventional light rail. They can be installed in weeks rather than months or years as no expensive, time-consuming rails are required in the road. Besides China, other countries such as Malaysia, Israel and Australia are drawing up plans for trackless trams.
According to the UAE news outlet National News, Dubai has also reached an agreement with Zhong Tang Sky Railway Group to explore new transport systems. Signed in June of last year, the early-stage deal with the Chinese company could deliver a new transport network to the UAE.
- M. Finck, Chapman
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