Advantages

Advantages Cover Advantages Cover

Engineering developments and know-how of Unitsky String Technologies Inc., which are the basis of uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes, provide a number of characteristics that allow not only to compete with other transport systems, but also to considerably surpass them

uST transport and infrastructure complexes can be easily adapted to perform any logistics tasks in the field of urban and intercity passenger and freight traffic at speeds of up to 150 km/h. The complexes are distinguished by high efficiency, safety, reliability and durability. In addition, they are more profitable in terms of construction and operating costs compared to other types of overpass transport (monorail, ground and underground metro, high-speed tram, cable car).

uWind on the sagging monorail track structure (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2019)

Key figures

  • Average capital expenses (CAPEX)*
  • Travel speed in urban modes of transport*
  • Comparison of carrying capacity of different modes of transport complexes

CAPEX $ mln/km

Monorail
Light rail transport
Ropeway
Metro
High-speed tram
High-speed railway transport
uST
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200

* depends on the country of implementation and technical and economic indicators of the project (from open sources of information in average prices as of 01.07.2022)

Speed Average/Maximum, km/h

Ropeway
High-speed tram
Monorail
Light rail transport
Metro
uST
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160

* based on public sources

Passengers per hour

Ropeway
High-speed tram
Monorail
Light rail transport
Metro
uST
10 000
20 000
30 000
40 000
50 000

* based on public sources

Сomparison with the rivals

Passenger transport

uST
Ropeway
150 km/h
Maximum travel speed
40 km/h
8–15 mln USD/km
CAPEX
15–25 mln USD/km
Up to 50 000 passengers/hour
Carrying capacity
2 000 passengers/hour
Unlimited
Track length
Up to 10 km
Turning capability
Unmanned steel-wheeled transport
Movement principle
External motor drives the rope and cabins
Track structure – 50-100 years,
rolling stock – 25 years
Life time
Complete replacement is required every 6-8 years
Possibility to extend transport network
uST
Metro
150 km/h
Maximum travel speed
80 km/h
8–15 mln USD/km
CAPEX
200–500 mln USD/km
Up to 50 000 passengers/hour
Carrying capacity
Up to 50 000 passengers/hour
Steel-wheeled electric car
Movement principle
Electrical underground railroad
An individual second-level track is integrated into urban development
Structural complexity
An individual track in an underground tunnel, underground stations
From 20 s
Travel interval
From 1 min
Low
OPEX
High
uST
Light rail transport
150 km/h
Maximum travel speed
80 km/h
8–15 mln USD/km
CAPEX
50–100 mln USD/km
Up to 50 000 passengers/hour
Carrying capacity
Up to 20 000 passengers/hour
Steel-wheeled electric car
Movement principle
A type of railway transport with reduced dimensions and carrying capacity
From 20 s
Travel interval
From 1 min
uST
Monorail
150 km/h
Maximum travel speed
80 km/h
8–15 mln USD/km
CAPEX
60–150 mln USD/km
Up to 50 000 passengers/hour
Carrying capacity
Up to 11 000 passengers/hour
Steel-wheeled electric car
Movement principle
Overpass-type transport on pneumatic tires or steel wheels
From 20 s
Travel interval
From 3 minutes
Track structure – 50-100 years,
rolling stock – 25 years
Life time
Track structure – 50 years,
rolling stock – 10-15 лет
Possibility to extend transport network

Cargo transport

uST
Narrow-gauge railway
NGR
Up to 150 km/h
Maximum travel speed
30 km/h – empty stock,
10 km/h – loaded stock
8–15 mln USD/km
CAPEX
5–10 mln USD/km
Automated control system
Control principle
Human intervention is required (route crew, several shifts of motormen)
Track structure – 50-100 years,
rolling stock – 25 years
Life time
Requires frequent rail replacement
Minimum environmental hazard during construction and operation of the track structure
Environmental friendliness
Significant landscape changes in the terrain during the construction of the road
Electric energy
Power source
Diesel
uST
Railway transport
Up to 150 km/h
Maximum travel speed
Up to 90 km/h
8–15 mln USD/km
CAPEX
8–12 mln USD/km
Automated control system
Control principle
Human intervention is required (several shifts of motormen)
Low
Noise level
High
Minimum environmental hazard during construction and operation of the track structure
Environmental friendliness
Significant landscape changes in the terrain during the construction of the road
uST
Ropeway
Up to 150 km/h
Maximum travel speed
Up to 30 km/h
Unlimited
Track length
Up to 10 km
Turning capability
Steel-wheeled electric car
Movement principle
External motor drives the rope and cabins
Track structure – 50-100 years,
rolling stock – 25 years
Life time
Complete replacement is required every 6-8 years
Possibility to extend transport network

Availability

  • 1

    Low material consumption

  • 2

    Minimum land allotment

  • 3

    Low operating costs

  • 4

    Automation of the transportation process

uBus on the sagging bi-rail track structure (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2019)

Compared to existing overpass transport solutions (monorail, cable car, light rail transport, and express tramway), the cost of building and operating uST transport and infrastructure complexes is much lower. The product of Unitsky String Technologies Inc. is highly commercially available due to a combination of unique characteristics

Features of the prestressed string rail structure make it possible to reduce the material consumption and cost of transport overpasses by an order of magnitude. During the construction of uST Transport Complexes, there is no need for the construction of earth embankments, excavations, bridges, overpasses, multi-level interchanges and culverts.

EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2021)

The track structure requires minimal land allocation for construction and a small amount of earthworks. The “second level” factor saves space and does not interfere with the usual use of territories: agricultural areas, recreational and pedestrian zones, etc.

uCar and uBus in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2020)

Resistance to external influences and durability of the string rail overpass provide low operating costs. Regular replacement of the complex elements is not required, while the service intervals are significantly increased in time and mileage. The service life of the overpass before overhaul starts from 50 years, that of the rolling stock is 25 years.

The design of the string rail overpass makes it possible to lay a route along a shorter trajectory. Due to the long spans between the supports, the route can be laid over a water barrier or other difficult terrain without the use of additional structures. This not only shortens the distance to the destination, but also saves money (no need to build additional kilometers of the route), and also reduces operating costs.

uCar on the flexible track structure in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2022)

Production of rolling stock – steel-wheeled rail electric cars – requires a low consumption of structural materials. The absence of massive drives, hefty frames, heavy undercarriages and wheel pairs can significantly reduce production costs.

uBike and uCar in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2020)

The high energy efficiency of uST transport, which is ensured by the high aerodynamic design of uPods, their movement on steel rails and the low value of the resistance of movement due to the absence of losses on the hysteresis of the elastic elements of the wheel propellers, makes it possible to achieve minimal operating costs. In addition, when using a flexible type of track structure, it is possible to use gravitational forces during the acceleration of a uPod on the descent between the adjacent supports. On long stretches, uPods can accelerate up to 150 km/h without using electricity, which also helps to reduce energy consumption.

uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes are ready to ensure the transportation of the maximum number of passengers (up to 50,000 people per hour) at minimal operating cost due to high speed and a minimum traffic interval from 20 seconds. This feature, along with the automation of the transportation process, energy efficiency and the need for only a small staff of maintenance personnel, reduces the period of self-repayment of the complex.

Safety

  • 1

    Location of the track structure high above ground rules out accidents

  • 2

    Movement of the rolling stock on a firmly secured track

  • 3

    Anti-derailment system on each uPod’s wheel

  • 4

    Automated control systems

  • 5

    Data exchange between uPods on the line

uCar in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2021)

uST transport and infrastructure complexes are distinguished by a high level of security. A multi-level system has been created, the elements of which exclude any incidents and accidents during the operation of the complex

The string rail overpass is located above the ground, so collisions with other vehicles (buses, cars or agricultural machinery), pedestrians or animals are simply impossible. The prestressed track structure allows the uST Complexes to remain operational even if one or more supporting towers are damaged in the event of natural disasters or other force majeure circumstances. In such a situation, the rails will sag to a greater extent, but they will not break. The track structure will also not collapse if individual strings (up to 50% of the total) get damaged or broken, e.g. in a terrorist attack.

uCar and uCont in a mechanical coupling enter the station – simulation of an emergency evacuation of a uCar (Sharjah, UAE, 2022)

Rail electric cars move along a firmly secured track and exchange data between one another and the control room in real time. This eliminates the risk of emergency situations when the cars are moving or stopping on the line, or when losing control. uPods are equipped with an anti-derailment system that prevents them from derailing, overturning and/or falling. The automated control system makes the string transport resistant even to the most difficult weather conditions: snowfalls, heavy rains, dust and sand storms, etc.

uWind and uBus in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2021)

Unitsky String Technologies Inc. develops and manufactures transport and infrastructure complexes in accordance with strict international standards. The safety of uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes has been confirmed in the UAE by the international independent organization TUV SW. Certification covers the main structural elements of the complex: a string rail transport overpass, electric vehicles on steel wheels with an automated control system, anchor and supporting towers, passenger and service stations, control room and utilities.

uST Transport & Infrastructure Solutions provide safety when used during epidemics and pandemics. For example, the accumulation of a large number of people in a conventional train car, bus or trolleybus contributes to the spread of viral diseases. At the same time, uPod models of different capacity allow transporting both small groups of people and tens and even hundreds of people. If necessary, only small vehicles can be used on the line. Adapting transport to passenger traffic through automated control systems will enable to avoid crowding at stations if necessary.

EcoFest-2019 (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2019)

Adaptability

  • 1

    Inclusion in areas with difficult terrain and weak and permafrost soils, as well as quake-prone regions and flood zones

  • 2

    Integration of external communications – product, electrical, and information networks – over existing infrastructure

  • 3

    Construction over existing communication, residential, and industrial infrastructure

  • 4

    Adaptation of passenger capacity and traffic intervals of rail electric vehicles to peaks and declines of passenger traffic

EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2019)

uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes are characterized by a high level of adaptability. They can be built in areas with complex terrain and extreme natural and climatic conditions. The possibility of laying transport and infrastructure communications over existing roads and railways, power lines, residential and industrial development areas also makes the uST Solutions flexible in use. Thanks to this, the problems of congestion and traffic jams on roads in cities can be solved, the load on existing transport communications is reduced

Cargo and passenger uPods in the UAE and Belarus, 2021

The track structure is designed in such a way so that it can be used both for the transportation of passengers and for the transportion of goods. It is easier to integrate a string rail overpass into an already formed urban environment than to build a subway, railway or highway there. A light string rail track will harmoniously fit into the architecture of any settlement. Existing communication networks can be integrated into the transport overpass, no radical re-planning of the city infrastructure is required. Passenger terminals are combined with anchoring structures. Stations can be used as commercial real estate, accommodating cafes, shopping and entertainment centers, hotels, pharmacies and other facilities. They can also be used as additional advertising space. Due to this, the payback period of uST Complexes is reduced.

Passenger station in Sharjah (UAE, 2022)

uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes are built and operate on the principle of modularity. If necessary, the transport is easily coupled into trains with a large number of vehicles. Their number in the coupling, as well as models of uPods are selected depending on the logistics tasks for a particular project.

uCars in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2019)

Automated control systems adapt traffic intervals of uPods to the number of passengers at the station. Due to the speed of up to 150 km/h and the minimum traffic interval (20-30 seconds), rolling stock with a capacity of 6 to 250 people will be able to provide efficient and safe transportation of passengers – up to 50,000 people per hour.

Features of the elements of the transport and infrastructure complex make it possible to use it in regions with difficult climatic conditions. Pre-tensioning of rails solves the problem of temperature deformations and allows transport to operate at abnormally high and low temperatures. The prestressing of the track structure in the complexes is calculated taking into account the temperature regimes typical for the areas of operation. Changes in the characteristics of rails during thermal expansion and contraction are included in the design so that this does not affect the performance of uST Complexes, as well as speed limits and the comfort of transportation.

Environmental friendliness

  • 1

    Preservation of natural ecosystems and biogeocenoses under the road

  • 2

    Preservation of animal migration routes and soil hydrology

  • 3

    Electricity use

  • 4

    No exhausts, tire and asphalt wear products

  • 5

    Low noise

A train of two uCars (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2021)

Transport and infrastructure complexes of Unitsky String Technologies Inc. have virtually zero environmental impact and low noise levels. Transport should peacefully coexist with nature, and not be at loggerheads with it, complement it, not replace it – this is the approach the company adheres to when developing its solutions

uCar in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2019)

The maximum environmental friendliness of string transport is achieved due to the low material consumption of the structural elements of the string rail overpass and rolling stock, minimal land acquisition, operation on electricity and its low consumption, as well as due to the movement of vehicles high above the ground. These unique features make it possible to use uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes even in regions with the most stringent environmental requirements.

Steel-wheeled rail electric cars run on the most environmentally friendly type of energy – electricity. Moreover, high energy efficiency of uST transport is achieved due to the movement of steel wheels on steel rails with an efficiency of 99.8% and high aerodynamics of the rolling stock. This is the most important moment. After all, large consumption of electricity also harms nature, since this resource is often obtained at coal-fired power plants that emit flue gases with harmful cancerogenic substances into the air. By the way, the energy consumption of uPods is 2-3 times lower than in traditional modes of transport using steel wheels or a magnetic cushion. And if we compare this figure with road transport, including conventional pneumatuc-tyred electric cars, then it is even 5-7 times lower.

14-seat uBus in the EcoTechnoPark (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2018)

uPods are more environmentally friendly than conventional electric vehicles, which consume way more electricity and take up space on the city road, resulting in congestion that releases large amounts of toxic substances. String transport moves high above the ground and rules out the problem of traffic jams.

Conventional electric vehicles use pneumatic tires that, when rubbed off, together with asphalt, release soot, benzapyrene, phenols, and other carcinogenic substances into the air (over 100 of them), and some of them are contained here in greater quantities than in car exhaust. In turn, tire production and disposal of spent tires leads to additional emissions of hazardous substances for the wildlife. In uST, this problem is solved thanks to the use of steel wheels of special design, which makes them more wear-resistant, for example, in comparison with railway wheel pairs.

Two uCars in an electronic coupling on a 400-meter span of the string rail overpass (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2020)

Noise and vibration from string transport is significantly lower than from a railway, tram or monorail. It has already been studied that, for example, in the Moscow metro, the passenger is only safe for the first three seconds. Further on, negative factors will begin to affect the human body – an isolated and compressed space, as well as the strongest noise and vibration. uST transport does not contribute even a small fraction of that noise load.

Rail electric cars in the EcoTechnoPark – in summer and winter (Maryina Gorka, Belarus, 2021)

The location of the string rail track structure above the ground does not prevent the movement of ground and surface water, the movement of people and animals, as well as agricultural and other machinery. The string route does not disturb the terrain, preserves the fertile soil, landscape and biodiversity of the surrounding area due to the minimum land allocation. Maintenance of the track structure does not require de-icing salts that are hazardous to the environment and the human body.

Ecologically clean string rail roads have point supports on the ground. This advantage, with the widespread use of transport and infrastructure complexes, can save vast territories for land users, which would otherwise be occupied by traditional transport communications, as soils under roads and railroads equal in area to five areas of Great Britain have already been destroyed on the planet. Vegetation will remain on these areas, annually replenishing the atmosphere with millions of tons of life-giving oxygen. The severity of the environmental pollution problem will then be significantly reduced to a safe degree.