China unveiled its first fully renewable elevated train.
Located in Chengdu, the capital of China's southwestern Sichuan province, Dayi's rail project involves a train suspended on a monorail.
Suspended in the air and open on multiple sides
The vehicle works using a lithium battery as traction power. Through its three-sided glass panels (including the floor) that offer 270-degree views, users of the suspended train will be able to enjoy incredible views while traveling sustainably.
The China Dayi Rail project is the world's first suspended, renewable energy project and can travel at around 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph). It has a maximum capacity of 120 people per car and aims to become not just another means of public transport, but also a tourist attraction, connecting places with relatively low passenger flow. It currently runs for 11,5 kilometers and has four stations that connect important tourist points of the city.
Lighter and more dynamic
“The new generation of vehicles weighs about 2,5 tons, 0,5 tons less than traditional ones, and has the lowest weight coefficient in the industry overall,” says Zhong Min, deputy general manager of Zhongtang air rail, in a interview with a local newspaper.
A solution that could pave the way for other local transport routes with a tourist vocation. Routes (for now) shorter and suitable for following many stops, to offer passengers the convenience of a suspended journey "en plein air", and the environment the advantage of a zero-emission vehicle.
