Changchun-made metro railcar to serve in Harbin

The first metro railcar for the first phase of the new Harbin Metro Line 2 came off the production line on June 30 at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd in Changchun, capital of Northeast China's Jilin province, according to company officials.

The railcar, adopting a raft of new technologies and materials, will serve public transport in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province.

Company officials said that the vehicle has an active driver safety system. This can monitor the driver's performance and mental state -- through face recognition, facial feature analysis algorithms and limb behavior recognition algorithms. Combined with video and image analysis technology, this can activate safety warnings and ensure safe driving.

Officials said that with its lightweight design, the metro railcar is much more energy-efficient than traditional ones and can accommodate more passengers.

In addition, 48-inch LCD dynamic maps are equipped in the carriages, showcasing information including the specific position of the carriage at the station, the position of elevators at the station and main buildings around the station.

Officials said that the vehicle has also adopted world-class extremely cold resistance technology. This ensures the stable performance of the railcar at low temperatures, while providing passengers with a pleasant indoor temperature.

In 2012, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles provided 186 high-cold-resistant metro railcars to Harbin, which have been functioning well since, according to officials.

The new Harbin Metro Line 2 has a total length of 28.7 kilometers and is expected to start operating in June, 2021.