| Autonomous rapid transit (ART) 智能轨道快运系统 (智轨)[1] | |
|---|---|
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| Manufacturer | CRRC |
| Family name | Guided bus Bi-articulated bus |
| Constructed | 2017 |
| Entered service | Inauguration date: 2018[2][3] |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Space frame with bolted-on panels |
| Train length | 3 sections: 31.64 m (103 ft9+5⁄8 in) |
| Width | 2.65 m (8 ft8+3⁄8 in)[4] |
| Height | 3.4 m (11 ft1+7⁄8 in)[4] |
| Low-floor | Yes |
| Maximum speed | 70 km/h (43 mph)[5] |
| Power supply | 600 kWhLithium–titanate batteries[6] |
| Electric system(s) | 10 kV |
| Wheels driven | Rubber wheels on a plastic core[7] |
| Bogies | Multi-axle steering system,[6]Active suspension |
| Minimum turning radius | 15 m (49.2 ft) |
| Passengers |
|
|---|---|
| Max. distance at full charge | 40 km (25 miles) (standard model)[2] 80 km (50 miles) (UAE model) |
| Charging time | |
| Min. width of lane | 3.5 m (11.5 ft)[10] |
| Life expectancy | 25+ years for body structure (manufacturer claimed) |
| Autonomous rail rapid transit | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 智軌 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 智轨 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Smart Rail" or "Intelligent Rail" | ||||||||
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Autonomous rapid transit (ART) is alidar (light detection and ranging)guidedbi-articulated bus system intended for urban passenger transport. Developed byCRRC throughCRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co Ltd, it was first unveiled inZhuzhou, China, on 2 June 2017.[2][3][11] Though marketed with terms such asLingang digital rail rapid transit andelectric road, its core design consists of a multi-section articulated vehicle guided by optical sensors rather than rails. The body is composed of fixed compartments joined byarticulatedgangways, giving it a superficial resemblance to arubber-tyred tram ortranslohr.
The marketing of ART as "rail" or "rapid transit" technology has been met with skepticism, with critics describing the system as agadgetbahn. Despite the English branding as "autonomous", all ART vehicles in operation are manually speed-controlled with optical guidance assistance and are not capable of fully independent navigation.[12] More significantly, the absence of any physical rail infrastructure undercuts its association with rail-based systems. While the aesthetic and branding attempt to align ART with trams or light rail, the operational mechanics remain those of a bus, relying entirely on public roads and lacking grade separation.
Ultimately, ART falls within the category ofbus ortrolleybus technology, closely mirroring the function and form ofbus rapid transit (BRT). Vehicles operating under ART are subject to the same regulations as conventional road traffic and must displaylicense plates accordingly. Although the system is promoted as a modern solution to urban transit, the use of terms like "train" and "rail" may overstate its capabilities. In practice, ART functions as a guidedarticulated bus system, and critics argue that its key differences from traditional BRT are more cosmetic than substantive.[13]
Before the announcement by CRRC, optical guided buses have been in use in a number of cities in Europe and North America, including inRouen as part ofTransport Est-Ouest Rouennais, in Las Vegas as a segment ofMetropolitan Area Express BRT service (now discontinued), and inCastellón de la Plana asLine 1 (TRAM de Castellón). The guidance system technology used on these systems was called Visée under their original developer Matra, and is now named Optiguide after being acquired by Siemens.[14]
An ART vehicle with three carriages is approximately 30 m (98 ft 5 in) long.[6] It can travel at a speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and can carry up to 300 passengers.[5] A five-carriage ART vehicle provides space for 500 passengers.[2][5] A four carriage model was introduced in 2021 which can carry 400 passengers.[15] Two vehicles can closely follow each other without being mechanically connected, similarly tomultiple unit train control.[10] The entire ART has alow-floor design from a space frame with bolted-on panels to support the weight of passengers.[9] It is built as abi-directional vehicle, with driver's cabs at either end, allowing it to travel in either direction at full speed.
The 6.5 km (4.0 miles) long ART lane was built through downtown Zhuzhou and inaugurated in 2018.[2]
The ART is equipped with various optical and other types of sensors to allow the vehicle to automatically follow a route defined by a virtualtrack of markings on the roadway.[2] A steering wheel also allows the driver to manually guide the vehicle, including around detours.[8][10] ALane Departure Warning System helps to keep the vehicle in its lane and automatically warns, if it drifts away from the lane. ACollision Warning System supports the driver on keeping a safe distance with other vehicles on the road and if the proximity reduces below a given level, it alerts the driver by a warning sign. TheRoute Change Authorization is a navigation device, which analyzes the traffic conditions on the chosen route and can recommend a detour to avoid traffic congestion. TheElectronic Rearview Mirrors work with remotely adjustable cameras and provide a clearer view than conventional mirrors, including an auto dimming device to reduce the glare.[6]
The ART is powered bylithium–titanate batteries and can travel a distance of 40 km (25 miles) per full charge. The batteries can be recharged viacurrent collectors at stations.[4] The recharging time for a 3 to 5 km (1.9 to 3.1 mi) trip is 30 seconds[9] and for a 25 km (16 mi) trip, 10 minutes.[16]
A 2018 article by a sustainability academic argued trackless trams could replace bothlight-rail andbus rapid transit due to low cost, quick installation and low emissions.[17] Others have disputed the claims about cost and quick installations, and argued that ART is a proprietary technology with little deployment worldwide.[18][19] Other experts have argued the technology is overhyped, that optical guidance technology is not new, and that current proposals largely represent a repackaging of the bus as a rail-replacement technology.[20] As of 2022 there are no systems outside of China and few proposals. That may be because:
Proponents have argued the lack of rails means cheaper construction costs.[6] Multi-axle hydraulic steering technology and bogie-like wheel arrangement could allow lower swept path in turns, thus requiring less side clearance.[21] The minimumturning radius of 15 m (49 ft 3 in) is similar to buses.[citation needed]
However, because the ART is a guided system,ruts and depressions could be worn into the road by the alignment of the large number of wheels, so reinforcement of the roadway to prevent those problems may be as disruptive as the installation of rails in a light rail system. Researchers in 2021 found evidence of significant road wear due to trackless tram vehicles, which undermined claims of quick construction, with the researchers finding significant road strengthening was required by the technology.[22] The suitability of the system for winter climates with ice and snow has not yet been proven. The higherrolling resistance of rubber tires requires more energy for propulsion than the steel wheels of a light rail vehicle.
A few abandoned proposals for light-rail lines have been revived as ART proposals because of the lower projected costs. However, a different report, by the Australian Railways Association, which supports light rail, said there were reliability questions with ART installations, implying the initial suggested capital cost savings were illusory.[23] A November 2020 proposal for a trackless tram system in theCity of Wyndham, near Melbourne, posited a cost of $AU23.53M per km for roadworks, vehicles, recharge point and depots.[24] Recently completed light rail systems in Australia have had costs of between $AU80M and $AU150M per km.[25][26]
TheGovernment of New South Wales considered the system as an alternative tolight rail for a line to connectSydney Olympic Park toParramatta. However, concerns were raised that there was only one supplier of the technology,[27] and that the development of "long articulated buses" was "too much in its preliminary phase" to meet the project deadlines. Instead, the plan was to build a light-rail line which would connect to another light-rail route already under construction, so passengers would not have to change vehicles.[28]
The Auckland Light Rail Group, in its studies of trackless trams for theCity Centre toMāngere line, found that trackless trams would have a lower capacity than claimed. The official specifications for the ARRT assume a standing density of eight passengers per square meter, whereas many transit systems have more typical standing densities of four passengers per square meter. Based on that, the 32-metre (105 ft 0 in) long ARRT would more realistically have a capacity of 170 passengers, rather than the claimed 307.[29] This would be only a slight increase over the typical capacity of conventionalbi-articulated buses at the same passenger density (~150 passengers), and less than a typical 33 m (108 ft 3 in) long LRV (~210-225 passengers).
| Line | System | Locale | Country | Length | Stations | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line A1 (Chinese:智能轨道快运A1线) | Zhuzhou ART[30] | Zhuzhou |  People's Republic of China | 3.6 km (2.2 mi) | 4 | May 18, 2018 (2018-05-18) |
| Line A2 (Chinese:智能轨道快运A2线) | 7.1 km (4.4 mi) | 8 | March 30, 2021 (2021-03-30)[31] | |||
| Line T1 (Chinese:智轨T1线) | Yibin ART[32] | Yibin | 17.7 km (11.0 mi)[1] | 16 | December 5, 2019 (2019-12-05) | |
| Line 1 (Chinese:临港中运量1号线) | Lingang DRT | Shanghai | 47.95 km (29.79 mi) | 26 | June 30, 2021 (2021-06-30) | |
| Line 2 (Chinese:临港中运量2号线) | November 28, 2022 (2022-11-28) | |||||
| Line 3 (Chinese:临港中运量3号线) | July 5, 2023 (2023-07-05) | |||||
| Line 1 | Campeche Light Train | Campeche |  Mexico | 14.6 km (9.1 mi) | 14 | July 20, 2025 (2025-07-20)[33] |
| Line | System | Locale | Country | Length | Stations | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRT Line 1 | Yancheng SRT [zh] | Yancheng | People's Republic of China | 13 km (8.1 mi) | 17[34][15] | April 16, 2021 (2021-04-16) |
| TBA | Yongxiu ART[35] | Yongxiu | 5 km (3.1 mi) (total planned 16 km (9.9 mi)) | 4[36] | March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)[37] |
| Line | System | Locale | Country | Length | Stations | Planned opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Line | Kuching Urban Transportation System | Kuching |  Malaysia | 27.6 km (17.1 mi) | 14 | 2026 |
| Red Line | 12.3 km (7.6 mi) | 8 | 2027 | |||
| Green Line | 30 km (18.6 mi) | 14 | 2028 | |||
| Line 5 | Metrorrey Line 5 | Monterrey | Mexico | 10.6 km (6.6 mi) | 15 | 2027[38] |
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Proposals, including vehicle testing, have been made in several countries.
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