A long way off the beaten tourist track of Shanghai is an unusual mode of transport – the Zhangjiang Tram.
It looks a little like a normal light rail system.
With a track running down the middle of the road, and overhead wires to supply electric power.
And platforms for intending passengers.
But the vehicles run on rubber tyres, guided by a central rail.
So are legally considered motor vehicles, and have registration plates affixed to the front.
The 10 km (6.2 mi) line runs from Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park Station on Shanghai Metro Line 2 to Heqing Town, with 15 stops along the way. Construction of the Zhangjiang Tram started in December 2007, with the first tram running in December 2009. The Translohr system was originally developed by Lohr Industrie of France.
A note on the track
The trackwork for a Translohr system differs to standard tram tracks.
The pair of rubber tyres leave scuff marks behind.
Beneath each vehicle are a pair of guide wheels arranged in a ‘v’ shape.
1- Road
2- Flangeway
3- Rail
4- Resin
5- Wheel flange
6- Spring
7- Wheel
Which engages the central guide rail, which has two running faces.
But the pointwork is the most complicated part of the system – the ‘frog’ section made up of two rigid pieces of rail fixed to a solid plate.
Which rotate in place to direct the guide wheel along the straight or diverge route.
Update: May 2023
The Zhangjiang Tram closed for good on 31 May 2023, with conventional buses taking over along a modified route.
The routing of the 9.8 km long line did not fulfil all of today’s requirements on public transport in this area: within the large Pudong urban development zone in Zhangjiang Industrial Park, the line does not serve all relevant points of interest with its 15 stops.
In 2018, Alstom stopped production of the Translohr, and all operations have since been concerned about the long-term availability of the required system components.
Maintenance of the fleet of nine Translohr STE3 low-floor vehicles (137 standing, 30-seat passenger capacity) became increasingly complex and cost-intensive over the years, as the system is no longer actively marketed after the takeover by the Alstom Group. The supply of spare parts has remained difficult for years. Currently, only four vehicles are still operational.
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