Train Goes through 19-Storey Block of Flat in China

When planners in China were asked to construct a new railway line in a residential area, they came up with an ingenious way of getting round the problem of demolishing people's homes  – by building the track so it runs right through them. 

A light railway track has been designed to run directly through a hole in a 19-storey block of flats in the city of Chongqing, located in the southwest corner of China.

It’s convenient for residents in the high-rise block, who can hop on the train at Liziba Station, located on the sixth to eighth floor of the building.

And if you’re worried about the noise, the building has been specially insulated and is said to be no louder than a dishwasher. Planners also claim the train line has increased the value of the apartments because it is so convenient for transport links.

The area, Chongqing, known as Mountain City for its countless skyscrapers, and is one of the most heavily populated areas in China with nearly 49 million people.

Planners behind the monorail said they were forced to come up with the plan to cope with overcrowding in the city.

City transport spokesman Yuan Cheng told the Daily Star: ‘Our city is very heavily built upon and that can make finding room for roads and railway lines a real challenge.

‘Sometimes there just isn't room on the ground so we have to think about going under, or over, or - in this case - straight through.

‘In a city as fast paced as this it was clear people wanted to get around quickly. Extending the railway line this way was a gamble, but it was one that paid off.’

The monorail station opened in 2004 in the area known as ‘Mountain City’, due to the area’s extremely hilly terrain.

Source : The Telegraph | Mirror | Metro