China’s very first sky train rolled off the assembly line on Saturday, inside a hard-working factory in Nanjing. China Daily reports that it only took them 4 months to design and complete the train.
And just like that, China becomes just the third country to “master” this technology, behind Germany and Japan.
Much like the “straddling bus,” the sky train is said to offer many advantages over traditional metros and trams. According to state media, they are cheaper and less time-consuming to build and are more environmentally-friendly to boot. One Beijing Jiaotong University professor estimates that it will only take 3 to 5 months to install dozens of kilometers of rail.
The trains can hold over 200 passengers and run on batteries, which last 4 hours and can be changed in two minutes at a station.
So, where can you ride one of these modern marvels? Well, experts believe that they are perfect for public transportation in third and fourth tier cities, as well as in scenic spots. China Daily says that they will make their debut at a “variety of scenic places” next year.