BEIJING, June 29 – A Chinese train maker has unveiled a prototype metro train made from carbon fibre that it says is 11 per cent lighter, making it more energy efficient and less hard-wearing on tracks.
Manufacturer Qingdao Sifang Rolling Stock, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, revealed the prototype called “Cetrovo” in Qingdao on Wednesday.
Fully automated, and with a top speed of 140km/h, the trains will enter service in the city later this year, replacing trains that travel at 80km/h.
Qingdao Sifang says its chassis, driver’s cab and bogie frames are made from carbon fibre, which makes for a 7% gain in energy efficiency.
It also cuts the wear and tear on tracks and the train’s own moving parts, and does not suffer from corrosion over its 30-year service life.
Carbon-fibre is formed from organic polymers drawn into strands that are about a tenth of the thickness of a human hair and must be bundled together, heated in a vacuum, and finally woven together.
The final product is five times stronger than steel but 75% lighter.
