| Innovia Metro | |
|---|---|
 An Innovia Metro 300 train of Rapid KL, Kuala Lumpur | |
 Interior of Innovia Metro 300 train of Vancouver SkyTrain | |
| In service | 1985–present |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Designer | UTDC |
| Family name | Innovia |
| Constructed | 1981–present |
| Formation | 1–4 cars trainsets |
| Operators | Current:
Upcoming:
Former:
|
| Lines served |
Former:
|
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | Design: 100 km/h (62 mph) Operation: 80 km/h (50 mph) |
| Traction system | |
| Electric system(s) |
|
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Innovia Metro is an automated rapid transit system manufactured by Alstom. Innovia Metro systems run on conventional metal rails and pull power from a third rail but are powered by a linear induction motor that provides traction by using magnetic force to pull on a "fourth rail" (a flat aluminum slab) placed between the running rails. However, newer versions of the technology are available with standard electric rotary propulsion.
The design was originally developed in the 1970s by the Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTDC), a Government of Ontario–owned crown corporation. It was designed as a system that would provide economic rapid transit service in the suburbs, which would have ridership levels between what a bus could serve at the low-end, or a subway at the high-end. During development, the system was known as the ICTS (Intermediate Capacity Transit System). The ICTS was chosen for lines in Vancouver, Toronto, and Detroit. Further sales were not forthcoming and the Ontario government lost interest in the company, selling it to Lavalin of Quebec in 1986. Lavalin ran into serious financial difficulties and the UTDC returned to Ontario control, only to be immediately sold to Bombardier Transportation.
Bombardier used the name Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) after its acquisition of the technology. The company was much more active in developing and promoting this system, introducing a major new revision and winning several additional sales in New York City, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur and Yongin, near Seoul.
Bombardier would later be purchased by Alstom, which continues to market the technology. The latest version is marketed as the Innovia Metro, while previous models are retroactively branded as Innovia ART. The largest system is part of the Vancouver SkyTrain metro network, which has seen several major expansions over its lifetime. It operates just under 50 kilometres (31 mi) of track compatible with Innovia Metro trains. Vancouver was the first to order Innovia Metro 300 vehicles. Since then, vehicle orders for the latest Innovia Metro technology have been made by transit authorities in Kuala Lumpur and Riyadh.
- ^ a b "The night shift on the SkyTrain guideway". The Buzzer blog (TransLink). February 28, 2010. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- ^ "History | Railway Systems | Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation | Transportation System History List". toshiba.co.jp. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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