Beijing tests driverless and maglev subways, tramway

BEIJING -- Beijing on Wednesday began testing three rail lines, including a driverless subway, a maglev subway and a tramway, all to be launched in the city's western suburbs at the end of the year.

The 16.6-km Yanfang Line is China's first fully domestically developed automated subway. It links the areas of Yanhua and Fangshan in Beijing's southwest suburbs. The line's trains are designed to run at a maximum 80 km per hour.

The 10.2-km Line S1 is Beijing's first medium-low speed maglev line, and it connects the western suburban districts of Mentougou and Shijingshan.

The 9-km West Suburb Line passes several tourist spots in northwest Beijing, including the Summer Palace, Fragrant Hills and the botanical gardens.

Serving both tourist and public transportation purposes, it marks the return of public tramcars half a century after the last tramway ended its services. The tramcars can travel at a speed of up to 70 km per hour.

Beijing has 19 lines covering 574 kilometers in operation. Twenty subway lines or sections, spanning over 350 kilometers, will be built this year.