The first phase of Line 1 of the intelligent track vehicle project in Harbin New Zone will start trial operations in July. The project is in Harbin city in China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province.

Line 1 has a designed length of 18.2 kilometers and will have seven platform facilities and 10 vehicles in operation.

The vehicles will run from west to east, passing through Shimao Avenue, Songbei First Road and Xuehai Street before terminating at Zhongyuan Avenue.

The new intelligent track vehicles run on electricity and follow a virtual track painted on the road, combining the set-route advantages of trams and flexible deployment of buses.

Developed by CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co, the vehicles are designed for a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour, with a minimum turning radius of 15 meters.
  The smart vehicles can accurately identify the virtual track even on roads covered with heavy snow and ice during the winter.

The vehicles proved their suitability for operating in the extreme cold after finishing a one-month evaluation on Feb 24, 2019. The winter assessment included 13 test items.

Once operational, human drivers will still be stationed in the intelligent track vehicles to ensure their safe operation.

Charging devices will be set up at two terminals. After a mere 10-minute charge, the mileage of each vehicle can reach 30 kilometers.

Currently, the platform facilities' main structures and facades have been completed, and the next step will be interior decoration.