'Sky train' rolls off assembly line in Wuhan
(ECNS) -- The "Xingguo" maglev sky train rolled off the assembly line Tuesday in Jiangxia District in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. This is the first time that permanent magnetic levitation technology has been applied to a sky train in the world. It features energy-saving and environmental protection technology, non-contact traction, and strong climbing ability.
The train was jointly developed by Jiangxi University of Science and Technology and China Railway Science and Industry Group Co., Ltd.
The sky train is a monorail train whose carriages are suspended on a rail supported by steel or cement columns. China is the third country in the world following Japan and Germany that has mastered sky train technology, according to Wang Zhongmei, chief technician at the China Railway Science and Industry Group.
The group has independently established a sky train test line of nearly one kilometer. Unmanned driving on the whole line has been achieved with an accumulated mileage safely exceeding 7,000 kilometers.
A sky train occupies less space and has better vision. It runs independently and won't be bothered by pedestrians and motor vehicles. Its single passenger volume is about half of the subway volume, but only costs one fifth that of the subway, which is very suitable for linking tourist attractions, business districts, science and technology parks, etc.
The Xingguo test line is 878 meters long, and consists of two trains with a quota of 88 people. Its designed top speed is 120 kilometers per hour.