Air train to be installed in shanghai and wenzhou

[Albatross]

“Air Train”, a new type of traffic that makes full use of space above the ground and free of traffic light, may be introduced to Shanghai and Wenzhou in the next 2 years, one supervisor of Air Train International Shanghai Co., Ltd said at the China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair held on May 8.

The all-electric air train will cause no auto exhaust pollution and make noise lower than 65-decibel within 6.5 meters, the supervisor added.

The H-Bahn or "hanging railway", a suspended, driverless passenger monorail system, was operated by Air Train International Shanghai Co., Ltd at the fair.

The H-Bahn, located at the University of Dortmund, Germany, is an automatically controlled suspended monorail system.

Unlike subway or light rail, the “air train” will be composed of 2 or 4 cabins, which are expected to travel at a speed of 25-40 km per hour. Each cabin could accomodate a maximum of 75 passengers.

Supposing the air train has four carriages and travels at 40 km per hour with an average 1.5 minute interval, the train can carry 12,000 passengers per hour.

Furthermore, the air train is more energy efficient and cost-effective than subway.

As to the safety concerns, experts said “hanging railways have been used in Germany for over 100 years. And the new system, H-Bahn, has been in service at the Dortmund university campus and the Düsseldorf International Airport without any accidents since 1984."

Over 20 cities in China have conducted feasibility study over the new traffic system. Wenzhou in east China’s Zhejiang Province has mapped out the route for the air train. Changning district, Jiading District, Baoshan District and Yangpu District in Shanghai have also studied the feasibility and 2 of the four districts have begun route planning.

 

[walle]

Just saw this on dragon tv news, cost is only 1/5 that of metro by the kilometer.

 

[shuttler]

It may not be a good idea for the investment in Shanghai as it has its maglev trains running on top of its metro, bus, taxis and private cars

 

[srshkmr]

I admire the chinese in developing trains Way to go guys

 

[octopusonhead]

Very cool design, it would be nice to see more of these types of trains in cities throughout the world.

Just for getting around and also for getting great views of your city.

 

[huskie]

this is a horrible choice for mega cities. The claim that it costs 1/5 of subway is questionable, but by design we know that its transport capacity per hour is only 1/4-1/6 of subway.

Just saw this on dragon tv news, cost is only 1/5 that of metro by the kilometer.

 

[420canada]

That looks coooooool

 

[cirr]

this is a horrible choice for mega cities. The claim that it costs 1/5 of subway is questionable, but by design we know that its transport capacity per hour is only 1/4-1/6 of subway.

This is no replacement of, but a supplement to the existing metro network.

It will be used in a localized way, such as in the Hongqiao Hub ferrying people within an area of some 20 square kilomtres.

 

[Markus]

Konkan Railway of India had ideated this system (they called it SKYBUS) several years ago.

But the govt. thought the design too be too risky, hence was not implemented.

Konkan Railway, till this date, maintain the Skybus is the best system that can be implemented to solve transportation problems.