Lahore has welcomed its first Super Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (SRT) vehicle, a next-generation “trackless metro” designed to function like a subway but without the need for fixed rails.
The vehicle, unveiled this month, is part of a pilot project aimed at evaluating whether such technology could transform urban transport in Pakistan’s major cities. Unlike conventional metro systems, the SRT uses Virtual Track Technology, a digitally guided system that allows the vehicle to follow a pre-programmed route with precision—without the massive infrastructure costs of laying rail lines.
Already in operation across multiple Chinese cities, as well as in Malaysia, the UAE, and Türkiye, the SRT was first launched in Jiangsu Province, China, in 2021. It has even earned the prestigious Zhan Tianyou Award from the China Civil Engineering Society for its innovative design.
For now, the vehicle in Lahore serves purely as a demonstration model. Authorities will monitor its performance before deciding whether to integrate the system into the city’s transport network. A formal launch timeline has not yet been announced.
