In China trains run without rails

China introduced the first trackless train in 2018

The world's first trackless train is being tested in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, China. This innovative means of transport uses virtual tracks marked with white dotted lines instead of traditional rails. The idea is the responsibility of China State Railway Corporation Limited (CRRC), the world's largest manufacturer of rail transport equipment. The train is planned to carry tourists to and from Mount Fuji.

This innovation appeared in 2018, when a tram-like vehicle could be seen running on Chinese roads. At that time, too, the costly infrastructure of traditional rails was not used. The ART, which can carry up to 500 passengers, uses rubber tires and is controlled by sensors that detect road markings or magnetic strips embedded in the road surface. ART was promoted as a sustainable urban transport solution with lower implementation costs than conventional vehicles^[1].

However, despite its initial hype, the ART system has been the subject of considerable criticism. Thus, in the city of Zhou, Hunan province, which was first launched in 2018, the system was withdrawn in 2022 due to recurring technical problems. Criticisms included uneven reliability of the sensors and frequent delays.

However, the project's failure has not diminished interest in the future.

Last month, it was announced that plans to build a railway to Mount Fuji are being scrapped and the ART system is being reconsidered instead. After announcing the new project at the end of November, Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said at a press conference that the Fuji Tram option would "significantly reduce construction costs". He also added that although cooperation with CRRC was being considered, he would give preference to Japanese companies producing similar hydrogen-powered models. 

"With all due respect to the leading company, I would like to see Japanese companies take on this project," he said.

The number of visitors to Mount Fuji has increased in recent years

The number of visitors to Mount Fuji has increased dramatically in recent years. Until now, the only way to get to the site was to take a toll road to reach the top of the 3 776 meter high mountain. However, it has been estimated that the conventional vehicle system poses serious technical problems, including brakes and batteries in cold weather. It was considered that this is detrimental to the environment. For this reason, it was decided to start test runs of an automated commuter train. It is expected that the train will start operating in April. However, it is not yet clear which company will sign the contract for the project.

Conventional trains run on metal rails. In contrast, a train with tires requires more power to overcome resistance^[2].

Michelin is known to have introduced experimental cars with rubber tires in the 1930s^[3]. These vehicles were designed to improve ride comfort and reduce noise by using rubber tires instead of the traditional steel base. The rubber-tired wagons could then run on standard steel rails. Meanwhile, small steel guide wheels were fitted alongside the main tires to maintain stability on the rails. The use of rubber tires made the carriages lighter, which supposedly reduced production costs and energy consumption.

Although these wagons were used widely in France, it was eventually discovered that rubber tyres wear out quickly and require frequent maintenance. Nevertheless, this technology gave rise to trains on wheels.

The train is 32 meters long and can carry up to 300 people at a time

The train will reportedly have three carriages in the initial phase, but it is said that two more carriages will be added later. The innovative train is expected to have a total service life of around 25 years. The electric vehicle will be 32 meters long and can carry up to 300 people simultaneously. After 10 minutes of charging, the train can travel 25 km at a maximum speed of 70 km/h. The vehicle is said to be a respite for the city of Zhuzhou and its nature. The city has a population of almost 4 million and attracts countless tourists.

However, even though the trackless train is being hailed as a success, there are some critics. On social media, they comment that if the system is programmed to follow a line painted white, surely someone could bend it to their liking, for example, by pouring a couple of cans of white or black paint.

However, no one would argue that China is a marvel of engineering. From one of the most complex bridges ever built to transport development networks, the country challenges people worldwide. In fact, several bridges in China are considered engineering marvels because of their record-breaking parameters. One of them is the world's longest bridge over water, linking the cities of Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai, including a 6.7 km long underwater tunnel between two artificial islands. Construction work started at the end of 2009 and was completed in early 2018.