Beijing launches 5 new subway lines

Five new subway lines were launched today in Beijing and opened to passengers at 2:00 p.m. In the morning, the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Group Co., Ltd. held an opening ceremony at West Wangjing Station.


The five subway lines include two new complete lines — the Yizhuang and Daxing lines — as well as the Fangshan, Changping and No. 15 lines, which have all completed their first phase. The total length of new track is 108 kilometers.

With the addition of these five subway lines, Beijing's subway operating mileage now exceeds 300 kilometers for the first time.

The new lines began trial operations at 2:00 p.m. today and every new line opened at the same time. The five new lines completed test runs yesterday. Every company in charge of the lines then started to do the commissioning and final inspections.

The official website of the Beijing Subway Corporation has added five new subway lines, including train schedules of every station, and the maps of the surrounding areas.

Starting today, 18 trains will be added on Subway Line No. 13 in the evening peak hour to ease the line's passenger pressure brought by the experimental operation of the new lines. Meanwhile, with the opening of the first phase of the Changping Line, the original last train timetable of Subway Line No. 13 will be restored.

By Yan Meng, People's Daily Online