Beijing Subway
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The logo of Beijing Subway |
The
Beijing Subway () is a
rapid transit system that serves
Beijing city and its various outlying suburbs. It is a very minimal system given the population and density of Beijing, though expansions are expected by the arrival of the
2008 Olympic Games.
Beijing's subway system was the first such system nationwide. Construction works began on
July 1,
1965, as part of the military defense systems after the
Sino-Soviet split. Three major cities -
Beijing,
Shanghai and
Shenyang were proposed to build subway systems in the 1960s, but only Beijing Subway was built. It connects Xishan (西山) and the municipal area, with capability of transporting 5 to 6 divisions from Xishan to Beijing per day in case of Soviet invasion.
The first stretch of the Beijing Subway, from
Beijing railway station to Pingguoyuan (苹果园), was first operated on
October 1,
1969. The line corresponds to the western section of
Line 1 and the southern section of
Line 2 (Loop Line) today. Initially, however, this line was only for official use. The system became open to general public in
1977, and in
1980 for foreign visitors.
On
September 20,
1984 the rest of the Loop Line was opened, and the Beijing Subway was henceforth operated as two lines. On
December 12,
1992, Line 1 was extended eastwards from Fuxingmen (复兴门) to Xidan (西单). The second stretch (16.1 km) of the subway was funded by a $165 million (20 billion yen) loan from
Japan. On
September 28,
1999 Line 1 was further extended from Xidan to Sihuidong (四惠东). The entire passageway was opened on
June 24,
2000, thus allowing trains to go directly from Pingguoyuan to Sihuidong. There are still two stations near Xishan (#101 and #102) kept as military reserve stations and not open to public.
Line 13 was opened in two sections, the western section until Huoying (霍营) on
September 28,
2002, and the eastern section on
January 28,
2003. In the meantime, the
Batong Line, built as an extension to Line 1, was opened as a separate line on
December 27,
2003.
The Beijing Subway currently has 4 lines: Line 1, Line 2, Line 13 and Batong Line. As part of the preparations for the
2008 Summer Olympics, Beijing has pledged to expand its public transportation network. Beijing projects expansion of its subway network from the current 114 km to 481.2 km by
2015 (around 200 km by
2008).
Beijing plans to invest 63.8 billion yuan (7.69 billion US dollars) in future projects between
2002 and
2008. The Beijing Subway is now a market-oriented operation and is jointly funded by government and investors. The remainder will be covered by low interest bank loans, mostly provided by the
Big Four banks in China.
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Tian'anmen East Station on Line 1 |
Line 1
Line 1 runs from Pingguoyuan (苹果园) in the west to Sihuidong (四惠东) in the east. At 31.04 km long, it is the longest east-west subway line in Beijing. It runs beneath the extended
Chang'an Avenue and through the commercial districts of
Xidan,
Wangfujing and
Dongdan. Two stops on either side of
Tian'anmen make it the only line that runs through the core of Beijing.
Current Line 1 stations are: Pingguoyuan, Guchenglu, Bajiao Amusement Park, Babaoshan, Yuquanlu, Wukesong, Wanshoulu, Gongzhufen, Junshibowuguan, Muxidi, Nanlishilu, Fuxingmen (interchange to Line 2), Xidan, Tian'anmen West, Tian'anmen East, Wangfujing, Dongdan, Jianguomen (interchange to Line 2), Yong'anli, Guomao, Dawanglu, Sihui (interchange to Batong Line) and Sihuidong (interchange to Batong Line).
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A train approaches a Beijing Subway station on Line 2. |
Line 2 (Loop Line)
Line 2 is also known as the Loop Line. It was first built on the site of the
Beijing city wall, and expanded from its south and southwestern parts to form a full loop in the early
1980s. The line is linked to
Line 1 at
Fuxingmen and
Jianguomen, and to
Line 13 at
Xizhimen and
Dongzhimen. Line 2 is 23.61 km long, most of which is beneath the
2nd Ring Road.
Current Line 2 stations are: Xizhimen (interchange to Line 13), Chegongzhuang, Fuchengmen, Fuxingmen (interchange to Line 1), Changchunjie, Xuanwumen, Hepingmen, Qianmen, Chongwenmen, Beijing Railway Station, Jianguomen (interchange to Line 1), Chaoyangmen, Dongsishitiao, Dongzhimen (interchange to Line 13), Yonghegong, Andingmen, Guloudajie and Jishuitan.
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Southbound platform of Wangjingxi Station (City Rail Line). |
Line 13
Line 13 is 40.85 km in length. It was opened in two sections: the western section until Huoying (霍营) on
September 28,
2002, and the eastern section on
January 28,
2003. It is also known as the City Rail Line. Most of the line is above ground, with some sections elevated several meters above street level. It runs between
Xizhimen and
Dongzhimen, forming a loop that serves the northern suburbs of the city. Line 13 connects to
Line 2 at Xizhimen and Dongzhimen.
Most of the line parallels the Beijing-Baotou rail line, except for the eastern section between Beiyuan and Dongzhimen, where it curves onto the
Jingcheng Expressway.
Current Line 13 stations are: Xizhimen (interchange to Line 2), Dazhongsi, Zhichunlu, Wudaokou, Shangdi, Xi'erqi, Longze, Huilongguan, Huoying, Lishuiqiao, Beiyuan, Wangjingxi, Shaoyaoju, Guangximen, Liufang and Dongzhimen (interchange to Line 2).
Batong Line
The Batong Line, built as an extension to Line 1, was opened as a separate line on
December 27,
2003. The line connects the areas of Bawangfen (八王坟) and Tongzhou District (通州区). It is fully above ground, mostly between the westbound and eastbound lanes of the
Jingtong Expressway. The Batong Line is 18.9 km long and stretches from
Sihui in the west to
Tuqiao in the east.
Current Batong Line stations are: Sihui (interchange to Line 1), Sihuidong (interchange to Line 1), Gaobeidian, Broadcasting Institute, Shuangqiao, Guanzhuang, Baliqiao, Tongzhoubeiyuan, Guoyuan, Jiukeshu, Liyuan, Linheli and Tuqiao.
Line 4
Line 4 is mostly underground. It is approximately 27 km long and stretches from Longbeicun (龙背村) at the
Summer Palace to Majialou (马家楼) in south Beijing. Construction started in
2004. It is scheduled to open on
September 30,
2009.
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There are extensive plans for future expansion. |
Line 5
Line 5 is 27.6 km long. It runs from Taipingzhuangbei (太平庄北) to Songjiazhuang (宋家庄). Construction started in
December 2002. This is Beijing's first north-south line and runs through some important parts of the city center. It is scheduled to open on
June 30,
2007.
Line 8 (Olympic Branch Line)
Line 8 is 4 km long and completely underground. It stretches from Xiongmaohuandao (熊猫环岛) to Senlingongyuan (森林公园), and will serve the new Olympic Park area. Construction started in
2004. It is scheduled to open on
June 30,
2008.
Line 9
Line 9 is 18.3 km long. The first phase stretches from Baishiqiao (白石桥) to
Beijing West Railway Station.
Line 9 will be extended to the Beijing World Park.
Line 10
The first phase of
Line 10 is 26.2 km long and stretches from Wanliu (万柳) in west Beijing to Jingsong (劲松) in southeastern Beijing. It is completely underground, mostly follows the
3rd Ring Road. Construction started in
2004. It is scheduled to open on
June 30,
2008.
Line 10 will be extended to Songjiazhuang (宋家庄).
Line L1 (Airport Extension)
Line L1 stretches from Dongzhimen (东直门) to the two terminals (T2 & T3) of
Beijing Capital International Airport with a fork near to the airport. It connects to Line 2 and Line 13 (in future will connects to Line 10). Construction started in
2005. It is scheduled to open on
June 30,
2008. The line will have a 4 km underground section and 23 km of elevated track.
Line L2 (Yizhuang light rail)
Line L2 is 19.5 km long. It will serve the Yizhuang (亦庄) area to the southeast.
The fare for Lines 1 and 2 costs 3
RMB, and transfer between these two lines at Fuxingmen and Jianguomen is free. The fare for Line 13 costs 3 RMB, and that for the Batong Line is 2 RMB. There's also a ticket valid for one transfer between Lines 1&2 and Line 13 for 5 RMB, and a ticket valid for one transfer between Lines 1&2 and Batong Line for 4 RMB.
Line 13 uses automated ticket gates, while the other lines have employees at platform entrances to check passengers for tickets. Many of the stations that are part of the older lines contain automated gates as part of an early testing phase. However, they were deemed to be inefficient and were abandoned early on.
For users of Beijing's new
Yikatong transportation card (One-Card Express), Line 13 accepts them for fare payment. In May
2006 other lines of the Beijing Subway also began to accept the Yikatong card.
Services for the Disabled
At present time, the Beijing Subway is still partially unfit for the disabled. Services and amenities for the disabled, however, are being progressively introduced. Authorities claim completion by
2006, but the fact that some stations were built during the
1960s through the
1980s makes the task daunting.
Automatic Ticket Systems
Currently, no lines apart from Line 13 employs Automatic Ticket Systems, and revision of stations on Lines 1 (western) and 2 (entire loop) is difficult, as the entrances to the stations are way too narrow. Tickets on these lines are bought and checked, instead, from subway staff. Remodelling these stations to allow for automatic systems is therefore also a daunting task. However since April 2006, all lines can use RFID cards (monthly ticket or virtual purse) instead of traditional systems (magnetic ticket on line 13 or paper ticket on other lines).
Emergency Services
After witnessing disastrous subway accidents in the
Republic of Korea (e.g.
Daegu), Beijing authorities took prompt action in late
2003 and early
2004 and banned shops inside subway stations. Also, reflective self-illuminating signs were installed in case of emergencies. Finally, the underground mall at the subway station at
Xidan was closed in
2003. Despite being very popular, authorities fear that evacuation may be hampered in the case of a subway accident.
*
List of Beijing Subway stations*
List of rapid transit systems*
Official Beijing Subway Website*
Beijing Subway Information on UrbanRail.net*
Beijing Subway Tips*
The Beijing Guide
