BYD SkyRail

BYD SkyRail
5-car set used by Metro de São Paulo
The interior of a unit
In service	2017–
Manufacturer	BYD Company
Formation	2–8 car sets

The BYD SkyRail, is a monorail electrical multiple unit (EMU) type train system designed by Chinese company BYD. The design is currently the main guided transit product offering, alongside the BYD SkyShuttle. The first customer was the Yinchuan Metro monorail project. ^[1]

Design

SkyRail was designed during a five year program, costing RMB 5 billion. ^[1] Trains can be equipped with an autonomous driving system and a back-up battery. ^[2] The trains are designed with a top speed of 80 kph. ^[3]

Users

Operational

• Yinchuan Metro – Yinchuan, China
  • Late 2017 a loop line serving Yinchuan's Flower Expo Garden opened.
• Guilin Rail Transit - Guilin, China
  • Test track opened in 2020, with planned passenger service late 2025.

Contracted

• Line 17 (São Paulo Metro) – São Paulo, Brazil ^[4]
  • Opening planned in 2026.
• Guang'an Metro – Guang'an, China
  • A contract was signed and construction began in 2018 but is on hold since 2020.

Cancelled

• Skyrail Bahia – Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
  • Quantity: 28 sets.

See also

• Monorails in China

References

1. "BYD's First Commercial SkyRail Line Launched in Northwest China". Motion Digest Network: Leading Urban Transformation. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
2. "BYD Unveils World's First SkyRail with 100% Independent Intellectual Unmanned Driving System". Mass Transit. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
3. "BYD's SkyRail VS subways of NYC & Hong Kong". Medium. All Tech Asia. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
4. "Metrô rescinde contrato de construção do monotrilho da Linha 17-Ouro".