Track-less and driver-less trains is what’s new in China. The Autonomous Rail Rapid Transport is being described as ‘railless train’
Words: Vandana Devi Images: Various Sources
Trains run on tracks and need drivers, most of the time. Proving both these things unnecessary, a Chinese train company has unveiled a 30m long vehicle they describe as a ‘railless train’. A combination of bus, tram and train, the vehicle can travel upto 40km at 70km/hour carrying 300 passengers as off now.
The ‘smart bus’ runs on rubber tires and has sensors that read the dimension of the road and helps plan the route. These sensors can detect the white dotted lines painted on the road. Called the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART), the mass-transit vehicle is offered as a cheaper alternative to rail based public transport. It is apparently much cheaper than a subway or tram system since it doesn’t require any heavy investment on infrastructure.
The ART was unveiled in China’s Hunan province. A 6.5km demonstration route will open next year. One ART bus will apparently cost around $2 million which is much cheaper compared to $102 million it takes to build a kilometre of subway track.
We need to constantly think of such innovative methods to improve public transportation in India as well. With traffic, congestion, pollution and another bunch of things that bother us on roads these days, such improved means of public transport is the way to go.