China tests automated platooning of 35,000-ton heavy-haul train group

China's independently-developed 35,000-ton heavy-haul train group completed the world's first automated platooning test for heavy-haul trains on Wednesday in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, a major coal production hub.

The test was carried out on the Baotou-Shenmu Railway, which connects Baotou City of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shenmu City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

During the test, seven individual 5,000-ton heavy-haul freight trains formed a platoon by wireless signals rather than traditional mechanical hooks, which makes freight transportation safer, smoother and more flexible, and causes less wear on tracks and wheels.

The main control center coordinated and planned the routes for all trains in the group in real time, issuing commands for train formation and decoupling, while train dispatchers organized transport of shipments based on needs.

The method boosts coal transportation volume by more than 50 percent, helping increase power supply to more households and businesses. Moreover, it can help save a significant amount of resources and lower costs.

The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Mao made the remarks in response to a media query about the reports that the Israeli parliament recently adopted a new law introducing death penalty for Palestinians, and countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed strong condemnation, saying such practice is "entrenching a system of apartheid."

"All legislation must conform to legal principles such as the principle of legality, fairness and justice, and must not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality or political view. The legitimate rights of the Palestinian people must be respected and protected. Relevant party’s actions that escalate tensions and exacerbate confrontation must stop," said Mao.