RAIL TAKES TO THE SKIES
Sharjah unveils high-speed sky transport.
By Helen Jones
Sky pods capable of travelling at 500 kilometres per hour were unveiled at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park in January. The elevated electric transport, the first of its kind in the UAE, could offer a cost-effective means of transporting freight between Sharjah’s east and west coasts.
Unitsky String Technologies of Belarus is building a 2km suspended track at the park, expected to be finished in May. A 400-metre test track is already operational, built to withstand the region’s extreme climate. That pilot project will start trials with passengers in March. Within three years, it is hoped that a 130km sky track could transport freight from Sharjah to Khorfakkan, suspended pods hanging from a robust string rail.
The cost of building the network is comparable, or cheaper, than laying new roads or railways and would require less maintenance, says Oleg Zaretskiy, SkyWay Green Tech’s chief executive. It consumes less energy than cars and the electric motor can be operated partly by solar or wind energy. By elevating the pods, the land below is preserved for alternative uses. The technology is considerably more advanced than a cable car, Zaretskiy says. “Ropes and rolling wheels restrict that format to low speeds because of friction and load. This is more like a railroad, with wheels rolling on a rail.”
Photo courtesy of Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park
