Xi'an launches 1st driverless rail transit system

Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, put its first driverless rail transit system, BYD SkyShuttle, into operation on Aug 12, after rigorous testing and debugging.

Developed by China's leading new energy vehicle manufacturer BYD, the rail transit system employs electric autonomous trains running on a 17.2-kilometer elevated rail line.

Servicing 18 stations along the route and seamlessly connecting with Metro Lines 3, 6, and 15 (under construction), it facilitates quick transfers for passengers.

Reaching a top speed of 80 km per hour and accommodating around 210 passengers per train, Xi'an's BYD SkyShuttle operates from 6 am to 11 pm, with peak intervals of approximately 3.5 minutes during rush hours.

Trains autonomously depart in the morning and run their routes, then return, recharge, and rest at night. BYD SkyShuttle features a quiet tire active noise reduction system, ensuring low operational noise for "silent travel" and minimizing disturbance to nearby residents.

With BYD SkyShuttle in operation, over 70 industrial parks and residential areas along the route will be covered, benefiting around 600,000 residents for their daily commutes, business, and leisure trips, while enhancing urban connectivity for city dwellers and visitors alike.

By 10 pm on the launch day, BYD SkyShuttle had served 25,600 passengers.