The Penang state government has revealed that it will look into Penang Forum’s suggestion to build the Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) system as an alternative to a light rail transit (LRT). According to a report by The Star, the state government has been briefed by the developer of the ART system, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) Zhuzhou Institute on the suggested public transport system.
Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said, “ART is relatively new. CRCC presented the system to us with the same slides and video used by Penang Forum. It will not be fair for us to respond now as ART is new to us, but we are not ruling it out.” Chow spoke to the press during a Q&A session at a public dialogue on the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) recently.
“All this while, Penang Forum never mentioned ART. Before this, they spoke of trams,” he said, responding to the presentation made by Penang Forum member Lim Mah Hui. Chow added that in the video presented to him, the train operated on a highway with eight to 10 lanes, making it rather unfeasible. “Penang does not have that much road space,” he said, adding that ART doesn’t require an actual railway, and has more in common with guided busways.
“It has rubber wheels running on roads. It is directed by a sensor system, installed along the road and can be dedicated or shared with other modes of transport. If it is dedicated, other measures need to be taken into consideration, like when it approaches an intersection, the traffic light must be programmed to give priority to ART. If not, then it is no different from a bus,” he explained.
The ART system was first presented by CRCC in June 2017, and it is described as a crossover between a train, a bus and a tram. The railless train measured 30 metres, featured three carriages and runs on rubber tyres rather than rails.
With a speed of up to 70 km/h and the capacity to carry 500 passengers, the train is powered by electricity and can travel up to 40 km on a full charge. With the absence of rails, the train uses sensors that can read the dimensions of roads and plan its own route autnomously – creating a virtual rail for the train.
Following its unveiling, the ART system began a three-month trial operation phase in Zhuzhou, China. Phase one of the pilot programme (Zhuzhou ART Line A1) has a total of four central island platforms and spanned a distance of approximately 3 km. The total mileage of the demonstration line is 12 km, to be constructed in two phases – the second phase measures 9 km.
The demo trains are equipped with safety features such as a 360-degree around view system and radar to monitor their surroundings. Also present are ancillary systems such as communication signal equipment, control centres, intersection signal priority systems and road safety facilities.
According to CRCC, the ART trains are given priority at intersections on the line, whereby the train sends instructions to traffic lights at a distance of 100 metres away from the lights. The traffic light system then adjusts to ensure ART trains pass through the intersections safely and quickly.
As these are electric trains, the terminal stations support fast-charging technology that provides a range of 25 km with only 10 minutes of charging. According to the company, more than 150 parties have visited CRCC to study the ART trains, including more than 20 overseas cities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, Brazil and others.
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Penang State gov must make more land reclamations instead.
Lol. On road? Seriously on road? On those small penang roads with lots of other vehicle? This is some kind of joke right?
Rempits gonna relish this with glee, doin wheelie and zig zag stunt.
Next Difficulty Level : Rail Rapid Transit
yes, on the Penang road where a 3 lanes road which only 1 lane available for moving vehicles because the other 2 lanes are used for “parking” and people are complaining the road are “small”. maybe since no matter how the “road” is expanded, you will only left with 1 lane.
Any public transportation is better than car for penang
Penang Lang want more road for their car, shame of using busses
coz all so lansi
The biggest problem with that isn’t the technology but how to prevent other road users by impeding or interfering with its operation.
We still can’t stop people blocking a yellow box intersection. I wonder how many rempits will find themselves under the wheels of these things since running red lights are one of their favourite pass times.
While there are cost savings to not having to build a rail infrastructure, it also looses out on the grid-rail or overhead pantograph power distribution which means the cars need to carry their fuel or power with them.
Let us settle 1 trillion debt first
c’mon… please dont sell penang to china :P
what penang need is something off the ground not on it. LRT is the best solution and proven tech.
They vote for tram not LRT
This China city was different to Penang, before they build up the city, these public transport already in planning. they have a proper walkway for resident, electric bike (they refuse petrol motorcycle) and car. Imaging in Penang always happens like 3 lanes can any time go to 2 lanes then back to 3 lanes again. How these buses can operate in Penang?
In other countries, this is called trolley bus. Nothing special whatsoever and please don’t experiment on our road with untested Made in China crap.
Had a chance to take a ride one of these at Zhuzhou last month. Quite impressive technology and it works. It is currently undergoing testing and I took the ride for free. As they uses rubber tyres, they are have less noise and a tad more comfortable than the ones in Melbourne.
So Penang is ‘sold’ to China is considered acceptable now huh?
Saudi prince considered acceptable.
Are these penang forum people drunk? Are they on drugs? Should we drug test them? An LRT and an efficient feeder bus system is all that is needed. Everything else is just pie in the sky BS and probably to line someones pocket.
No No No! As a Penangite I don’t see this feasible. First of all, Penang don’t even have 4 lanes road. Most 3 lanes road are being occupied by those illegal side parking.
I live in Penang. Whoever suggested trams or anything on roads for public transportation system must be out of touch with reality. Not only the roads are narrow, but the frequent monsoon and flooding will render it useless. Not to mention the repair costs.
Isn’t it similar to BRT?
please see the video, they have PROPER bus lane, proper car lane, proper electric bike lane, proper people walk way. in Penang what do we have? don always benchmark people good thing which is not suitable for us. Netherland PM can take a bicycle to work, should this benchmark for Penang CM? i personally vote for LRT and subway for PENANG
Too bad the majority of Penang lang voted for more cars and more highways
Build the pillar and tracks like LRT but use the Art. Save cost and time.