Driverless metro line on trial run in Shanghai

A new metro line with driverless trains is tested in Shanghai on Saturday. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Shanghai Keolis, operator of the line, is a joint venture between the Shanghai Shentong Metro Group and France-based Keolis.

With a lightweight design and an intelligent energy management system, the driverless trains will consume less energy compared with regular trains.

In addition, the use of rubber tires allow the trains to accelerate faster with less noise.

A new metro line with driverless trains is tested in Shanghai on Saturday. [Photo/chinanews.com]

Although the line is fully automated, given the massive passenger flow of the Shanghai metro, there will be staff on platforms to maintain order and handle emergency situations during the first months of operation, said Francois Dieu, head of a technical team sent to Shanghai from France two years ago.

The APM system has been used widely across the world and has previously been introduced in Beijing and Guangzhou.