The first domestic permanent magnet straddled monorail train, developed and produced by CRRC Qingdao Sifang Co, officially rolled off the assembly line after its test run on May 19 in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, marking a key breakthrough in China’s straddled monorail train industry.

The permanent magnet straddled monorail train starts a trial operation on May 19 in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

As an important urban transportation system, the permanent magnet straddled monorail train features strong climbing capacity, a small turning radius, vast capacity, low noise, energy efficiency and environmentally friendly operation, with a much lower project cost compared to that of subway systems.

The train can connect four, six or eight sections in accordance with operational requirements. The train body is 2.9 meters wide. It is referred to as a Hercules of its kind for carrying 1,448 passengers in six sections with a total length of 90.8 meters. The vehicle’s designed speed is 80 kilometers with a 30-year service life.

Zhong Yuanmu, chef designer of Sifang, said that the train is the first to be driven by permanent magnet synchronous motors, which is superior in energy conservation. It is estimated that the train requires 10 percent less power than the one using asynchronous motors.

The front cab of a permanent magnet straddled monorail train in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

Its strong climbing capacity and small turning radius facilitate smooth operation in complicated geographic conditions such as ramps and curves. When the train travels at 70 km/h, noise five meters away from the center line of orbit is only 70 dB, much lower than that produced by an automobile.

The train body adopts high-strength aluminum alloy, the structural strength of which is nearly twice as high as the current standard. It also has a BS6853 fire protection standard, which means it is fire resistant beyond 30 minutes to protect the safety of passengers. It is also constructed with a high-pressure direct atomization water mist fire suppression system.

The train is equipped with an advanced wireless tire pressure monitor system (TPMS), a safeguard to drivers and passengers. The system monitors tire pressure when running and raises an alarm when there is leakage and low tire pressure.

The inside of a permanent magnet straddled monorail train in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province. [Photo/qingdaonews.com]

Many other measures are taken to create a comfortable travel environment for passengers. Nano-ceramic windows used in the train can shield ultraviolet rays and deflect 97 percent of infrared light. Antibacterial and antiviral nano-materials cover the air duct of the air conditioning system to ensure a fresher and healthier environment. Three doors are set in each carriage to shorten the time to get on or off the vehicle.

The straddle-monorail train is widely used in urban central roads, side roads and airport rail links and has broad market prospects with more than 50 straddle-monorail routes open in the world.