OPERATION of the elevated Wuhu Line 1 monorail in Anhui Province, China, which is equipped to run at GoA 4, began on November 3.

The 30.46km, 25 station line will operate at 80kmh between 06.30 and 22.00, running north-south from Baoshun Road station to Baimashan station. More than 40,000 passengers used the line during trial runs in October.

Services are provided with a fleet of 28 six-car Innovia monorail trains supplied by CRRC Puzhen Bombardier Transportation Systems Limited (PBTS), a 50:50 joint venture between Alstom and CRRC.

The inauguration was attended by party secretary, Mr Shan Xiangqian, mayor of Wuhu City, Mr Ning Bo, CRRC chairman, Mr Sun Yongcai, China Railway Group president, Mr Chen Wenjian, and president of Alstom in China, Mr Jianwei Zhang.

The Cityflo 650 signalling system was provided by Bombardier NUG Signalling Solutions Company (BNS), Alstom’s signalling joint venture in China, while the Mitrac propulsion equipment for the monorail trains was supplied by Bombardier NUG Propulsion System (BNP), Alstom’s propulsion joint venture in China.

In June, PBTS was awarded a 27-year contract to maintain the new monorail system.