Following Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing South Railway Station will also introduce self-driving taxis for shuttle services, indicating the official launch of the first-ever self-driving trial at a high-speed railway station in Beijing.

Recently, Beijing's High-Level Autonomous Driving authority issued a notice regarding the testing roads and areas for autonomous vehicles in the policy pilot zone. It clearly defines the scope of autonomous driving tests between Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Beijing E-Town) and Beijing South Railway Station. It has been reported that after comprehensive consideration, two autonomous driving test routes have been set:

1. Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area—Boda Road—South 4th Ring Road—Majiapu West Road—Kaiyang Road—Beijing South Railway Station (with a round-trip distance of 32 kilometers)

2. Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area—South 5th Ring Road—Jingkai Expressway—South 3rd Ring Road and the Auxiliary Road of the Third Ring Road—Kaiyang Road—Beijing South Railway Station (with a round-trip distance of 58.6 kilometers)

In addition, a surrounding support area covering 2.2 square kilometers has been designated. Furthermore, dedicated parking spaces for autonomous driving vehicles have been arranged in the multi-story parking garage at Beijing South Railway Station.

When Can Passengers Hail Self-Driving Taxis to Travel from and to Beijing South Railway Station?

According to the Office of the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone, the next step will involve collaboration with relevant enterprises to bolster the on-road testing of self-driving vehicles qualified for testing on the expressways within the pilot zone. It is expected that the shuttle services will be available for passengers in this year. Passengers will be able to make reservations via the relevant enterprises' travel service Apps, board and alight at any self-driving shuttle station in Beijing E-Town, and travel from and to Beijing South Railway Station along the designated shuttle routes to experience the convenience and efficiency that self-driving technology brings to daily life.

(Source: Beijing Evening News)