On June 13, 2024 the International Metro Transit Exhibition & Forum, Beijing-Nanjing (MetroTrans) was held in Nanjing. The new urban smart fast rail train, an urban rail transit system developed by CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd., made its debut at the event.

The 30-meter-long train consists of three structurally independent modules, and features a maximum capacity of 280 passengers, a maximum running speed of 70 kilometers per hour, and energy consumption of only 3-4 kilowatt hours per kilometer. Unlike the traditional urban rail transit systems such as subway trains and trams, the new urban smart fast rail train uses rubber wheels instead of steel ones. By laying guide lines or embedding magnetic nails on the existing roads, the “optical recognition” or “permanent magnet induction” technology is leveraged to perceive and predict the running trajectory of the train for tracking navigation.

There is, therefore, no need to lay physical tracks, and existing urban road resources can be utilized more effectively, so it provides a new, green, smart solution for urban transportation.