China’s Land Airbus scrapped

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhfUn2Zen00

The Chinese Land Airbus, a road-straddling train concept that allows traffic to pass underneath it, has been scrapped – according to new reports.

Developed by Transit Explore Bus (TEB), the concept was recently involved in a trial program which included a 300-metre-long test track in the Chinese city of Qinhuangdao in August last year.

According to a new report from the Hong Kong Economic Journal, authorities have ordered the dismantling of the test track, after residents complained the pilot program was causing additional traffic problems rather than relieving them.

Measuring 22 metres long, 7.8m wide and 4.8m tall, the TEB Land Airbus was capable of carrying around 300 passengers above traffic, with vehicles up to 2.1m tall able to pass underneath.

Powered by electricity and solar energy, the Land Airbus claimed to travel at speeds of up to 60km/h.

This latest development comes after several media publications in China claimed the TEB project was a scam, alleging the test run last August didn’t simulate real traffic conditions, and that the concept shares its mechanicals with a large mobile gantry crane – similar to those used in shipping yards.

Other allegations included that the project was nothing but a money-making scam – as it was crowd-funded – along with claims the chief architect, Song Youzhou, only has primary school-level education.

Well, it was a fun idea.

MORE: China news
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