The new Putrajaya trackless tram is an Automated Rapid Transit (ART) system.
The tram is on trial runs in Putrajaya from 13 May until 31 July 2024.
The tram runs three times a day, departing Putrajaya Sentral MRT Station at 8:30 am, 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. It returns to Putrajaya Sentral MRT Station at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm respectively.
The three-coach driverless tram is on trial runs in two routes :
Route 1 operates from Monday to Friday from MRT Putrajaya Sentral to Lebuh Wawasan, Persiaran Perdana and Lingkaran Gemilang before heading back to the train station.
Route 2 operates only on weekends. It goes from MRT Putrajaya Sentral to Persiaran Perdana, before heading to Lebuh Bestari, Persiaran Timur, IOI Putrajaya and back to the train station.
The new Putrajaya trackless tram uses technology developed in China by CRRC.
CRRC Corporation Limited is a publicly traded rolling stock manufacturer. It is the world's largest rolling stock manufacturer in terms of revenue.
Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) is a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) guided articulated bus system for urban passenger transport. Developed and manufactured by CRRC through CRRC Zhuzhou, it was unveiled in Zhuzhou in the Hunan province on June 2, 2017.
The ART exterior is composed of individual fixed sections joined by articulated gangways, resembling a rubber-tyred tram.
The models in operation are optically guided and feature a driver on board.
An ART vehicle with three carriages is approximately 30 m long. It can travel at a speed of 70 km/h and can carry up to 300 passengers.
It is built as a bi-directional vehicle, with driver's cabs at either end, allowing it to travel in either direction at full speed.
The ART is equipped with various optical and other types of sensors to allow the vehicle to automatically follow a route defined by a virtual track of markings on the roadway. A steering wheel also allows the driver to manually guide the vehicle, including around detours.
The ART is powered by lithium–titanate batteries and can travel a distance of 40 km per full charge. The batteries can be recharged via current collectors at stations. The recharging time for a 3 to 5 km trip is 30 seconds and for a 25 km trip, 10 minutes.
The ART trackless tram uses special internal run flat tyres which are LRT grade in terms of quality and profiling of the tyre, where the overall lifespan of the carriage can be up to 25 years.
Each carriage has four tyres, and the tyres on the front and rear carriage can turn with power from electric motors for steering. While all the wheels are incorporated with counter steer system for effective and efficient turning radius.
The ART system is competitively priced compared to other classic public transport systems such as the LRT, MRT and monorail systems, where there is also potential cost saving of approximately up to 30 per cent.
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