China's first unmanned subway train was put into service in Hong Kong on December 20, 2016. (Photo from web)
(ECNS) -- China's first self-developed unmanned subway train was put into use in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Developed and produced by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, it is the country's first subway train to meet the G0A4 (Grades of Automation 4) standard.
Made of stainless steel, the vehicle can wake up and operate on its own. It can also self-clean and run its own diagnostics.
The train can travel at a maximum speed of 80 km/h. Instead of having cockpits, the train has open spaces at both ends to provide a better experience for passengers.
The Hong Kong Metro has brought in 10 of the trains to run on its South Island Line.
A CRRC insider said automation will be the future trend for metro service.
The staff member added that unmanned trains are also part of the plan for new metro lines under construction in Beijing's suburbs. The city is expected to have automated trains run on more than one fifth of its network by 2020.
