Beijing to launch driverless subway

2017-12-30
Xinhua

BEIJING — Beijing will launch three rail lines, including a driverless subway, on Dec 30, the municipal transport commission announced on Dec 29.

Located in Beijing’s southwest suburbs, the Yanfang Line is China’s first fully domestically developed automated subway. It has nine stations on its 14.4-km main line, linking the areas of Yanshan and Fangshan. The line is expected to carry 70,000 passengers daily.

Also to start operating on Dec 30 is the 10.2-km Line S1, Beijing’s first medium-low speed maglev line. It connects the western suburban districts of Mentougou and Shijingshan.

The third is the 9-km West Suburb Line connecting tourist spots such as the Summer Palace and the Fragrant Hills in northwest Beijing.

After the launch, Beijing will have 22 metro rail lines spanning 608 km.