Xinhua News:
HK MTR Corp wins 30-year operation of new Beijing metro line (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-04/15/content_4427228.htm)

Thank god.

that sounds good, is HK MTR Corp a HK company or overseas company?

that sounds good, is HK MTR Corp a HK company or overseas company?

It is a Hong Kong Company. :|

that sounds good, is HK MTR Corp a HK company or overseas company?

Its a private Hong Kong company and its the most profitable railway in the world.

Congratulations! HK MTR will make big bucks.

Technically, MTR is still a government-owned company, although part of its shareholdings is floated on the stock exchange.

MTR is one of the very few railway that could make a profit in the world.

MTR is one of the very few railway that could make a profit in the world.

Pal, the railway operations of the MTR is in red. What it makes in a profit is from the properties and the consultations. :|

^^ :P Still

From SCMP :

A thriving economy and property market drove MTR Corp's net profit 29.1 per cent higher, to a forecast-beating $8.45 billion, last year.

The profit came entirely from property development along its rail lines and a revaluation of investment properties, which offset a $16 million net loss on core rail services.

Commentary
A HK$16 million net loss in core rail isn't bad at all. It's almost breakeven.

Pal, the railway operations of the MTR is in red. What it makes in a profit is from the properties and the consultations. :|
MTR might be the only profitable subway company in the world. Its revenue comes from the development of properties along the subway lines not the subway tickets and ads. So I really doubt how it makes money from Beijing's subway project if MTR only operates the subway.

I found this map on the Internet.
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6941/jimynja4mdsmiwnpsomizch6lori2.gif

SO AMAZING! :master:


I suppose the labels are similar to Shanghai, I mean M=Subway, S=Suburban/Commuter and L=Light metro.
Any idea about the lengths, underground length at least? When will be these extensions completed, 2020?

z0rg,
You know China more than most Chinese. Have you got honorary Chinese citizenship? :) You certainly deserve it.

I'm not sure how many of them have been build. Can't wait for the next year when I go back.
Actually this is the one will be fininished by 2008:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Beijing-2008.png

Beijing to build elevated light rail system


www.chinaview.cn 2006-09-28 16:01:08


BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Construction work will start on an elevated single-track light rail system at the beginning of next year in China's capital, local government sources here announced on Thursday.

The project will cost 30 million yuan (3.8 million U.S. dollars) and is scheduled for completion at the beginning of 2008.

With the design stage completed, a team of international specialists from Australia and Hungary are finalizing the route, the sources said.

The 20-kilometer route will run from the Wenyu River wharf in Wendu Shuicheng community in Changping District, some 35 kilometers northeast of the center of Beijing, to the western part of Zhenggezhuang.

There will be 20 stations along the elevated route, which will be 2.5-3 meters above the ground.

Four trains will travel the route between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. every day, with a train every five minutes. The train will be free of charge for residents and tourists. The operational cost will be covered by local enterprises, said the sources, without revealing names.

Each train will have four 100-seat cabins, the sources added.

Electricity-driven and very quiet, the train will have a top speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Enditem

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-09/28/content_5149633.htm

Can anyone upload related pictures, please?

^^
just give you the link coz I am lazy :)

http://industry.soufun.com/industry/qingguiphoto.htm (北京轻轨图片赏析)

Some things in that article don't add up. 30 million RMB for a 20km elevated route with 20 stations? That just isn't possible, no matter how cheap your labor costs are. Also, a maximum speed of 20 km an hour seems ridiculously slow. Might as well just get your bike out. I have a hard time believing the stats they gave for this are correct.

I read the latest proposal (I guess the same as above) is 561 km long, making it the greatest underground tranportation system (not railway though) in the world.

holy 牛!!

348 miles. thats alot. whats the most in the world?

Currently, the longest urban railway network belongs either to Greater London (???--too complicated to measure) or Greater Tokyo (2,200+ km) or Berlin (including tramsways--3,000+ km--world's most extensive all-type rail network).

The longest subway/underground network in terms of route kilometers (as opposed to the longest overall track-length network--which belongs to New York's Subway Network with 4-lane tracks in the entire subway network) in the world belongs to London. It has some 408 kilometers (253 miles) of route kilometers. Furthermore, this "underground" network that London has is not entirely underground. In fact, a large portion of it is above-ground.

This means that Beijings projected 561 kilometer long subway network (considering that it really is "underground") would be way more extensive than London's by 2020 (if ever all plans push thru).

30 million!?
A similar line would easily cost 3 billion RMB to build in Sweden.

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/826/119742034803312f3b606ob0.jpg

Line 8 phase I is called Olympic line, with 4.528km long and 4 stations, will open before Aug 8 2008;

Line 8 phase II is 17.46km long, 12 underground stations (4 interchange stations), will be finished by the end of 2010.

地铁8号线全线由北到南将贯通5个行政区，成为北京又一条纵向快速交通走廊。昨天，北京市交通委透露，8号线将设16座车站，其中二期工程将分两段进行建设。

　　8号线成新南北中轴线

　　8号线北起回龙观文化居住区，经过清河边缘集团、奥林匹克体育文化区，从熊猫环岛开始，8号线沿中轴路向南，一直到达中心城区的美术馆东街。全线途经昌平区、海淀区、朝阳区、东城区和西城区，是贯穿北京市南北中轴线的骨架线路，与地铁4号线和5号线共同构成了城市轨道交通规划线网的三条纵向轨道线。

　　二期工程设12座地下站

　　8号线分两期建设，其中一期工程（奥运支线）北起森林公园站，南至熊猫环岛站，全长4.528公里，设4座车站。一期工程将在奥运会前通车运营，初期将作为地铁10号线的支线运行。

　　8号线二期工程全长17.46公里，共设12座地下站，其中换乘站4座。工程又分为两段，第一段线路北起回龙观小区东侧的黄平西侧路，顺黄平西侧路西侧绿化带南行，之后转向西南沿黄平东路行进，穿地铁13号线后沿西三旗东路向东南过清河、穿林萃路、五环路进入森林公园，与在建奥运支线的森林公园站相接。

　　第二段从熊猫环岛站引出后，沿北辰路、鼓楼外大街、旧鼓楼大街、地安门外大街行进，在地安门东大街折向东，在美术馆后街折向南至终点美术馆东街。

　　■特点

　　连接北部保障性住房区域

　　市规委总规划师施卫良介绍，8号线二期工程北端联系起了大量北京北部保障性住房区域，如回龙观、清河、西三旗及霍营地区。8号线建成后可有效缩短北部居民的出行距离，缓解地面交通压力。

　　兼顾通勤商务客流

　　8号线是一条大运量线路，专家预测8号线是沿线通勤、商务、购物及旅游休闲客流的首选。其客流呈现早晚高峰期以上班人员居多，非高峰时段以商务、购物及旅游休闲客流为主的特点；早高峰南、北段的进城客流远大于出城客流，晚高峰则相反。8号线将拥有庞大的沿线区域旅游休闲客流及大型活动突发性客流。

---------------------------------------------------------------------
http://image2.sina.com.cn/dy/c/2006-12-07/U662P1T1D11721794F21DT20061207095116.jpg
夏·熊猫环岛站——代表激情(Passion)

http://image2.sina.com.cn/dy/c/2006-12-07/U662P1T1D11721794F23DT20061207095116.jpg
春·森林公园站——代表希望(Hope)

http://image2.sina.com.cn/dy/c/2006-12-07/U50P1T1D11721794F1394DT20061207063434.jpg
秋·奥体中心站——代表辉煌(Splendor)

http://image2.sina.com.cn/dy/c/2006-12-07/U50P1T1D11721794F1395DT20061207063434.jpg
冬·奥林匹克公园站——代表宽广(Spaciousness)

本报讯 (记者刘轶滨)记者昨天从城建设计研究院获悉，由其设计的奥运支线的4个车站，将以“四季”为主题，采用红黑、黄、蓝、绿四色为主基调进行内部装修。

　　奥运支线全长4.398公里，线路全部为地下线。设计者借用了音乐中的“律动”概念，贯穿整条地铁线路进行室内装修设计，隧道就是“五线谱音符”组成的连续空间，而其间的4个车站，就是“乐谱中的休止符”。

在车站装修上，4座车站将分别以四季为主题，熊猫环岛站以红色加黑色为主色调，代表夏季的激情；奥体中心站则取黄色，代表辉煌，对应秋季；奥林匹克公园站的蓝色代表宽广和冬季；而森林公园站自然迎合了绿色的春季，代表希望。另外，车站墙面将以北京民居的灰色墙面作为空间的基本元素，以衬托北京城市的文化脉络。

　　另据介绍，奥运支线4个车站全部采用封闭到顶的屏蔽门，双向检票系统，并首次在北京地铁车站采用直饮水系统。车站的通行充分人性化，设置残疾人电梯和盲道。

　　-名词解释·直饮水

　　直饮水是指自来水经过设备深度处理后可以直接饮用的水。在发达国家，公共场所已普遍安装了公共直饮水设施。这样，既方便了人们饮用卫生健康的纯净水，又避免了因饮水而对城市造成白色污染。

I am glad to see that they have the drinking water system installed in the metro. This is even more advanced than many western cities.

the statistic must be wrong

I think this thing is already up and running in some parts of Beijing (near Zhongguancun), I think this is an extension.

I walk past one of the stops every few days from beida. currently they're building the bridge crossing the 4th ring road to connect it to the zhongguancun section.

I can take pics if you like. Also, in front of beida dong men will be one of the subway stops too...

good

When is line 5 of the Beijing subway expected to open?

When is line 5 of the Beijing subway expected to open?

Line 5 will be finished by July 2007. Other lines scheduled to be finished by the 2008 Olympics are Line 8, line 10, and Line L1.

This is unbelivable. The network looks vast!

When is line 5 of the Beijing subway expected to open?

The latest news says Line 5 will open on Sep 20 2007. Some news and pics from biansai_126, skyscrapers.cn.

北京地铁5号线9月20日通车

地铁5号线将于9月20日通车运营。该线南起宋家庄，北到太平庄北。

玻璃门封闭站台 平行电梯代步换乘 查询系统可知天气

透明玻璃门封闭站台；电子查询系统可查到换乘；在隧道里接听电话也照样清晰；像机场一样的平行电梯让换乘变得更加舒适……昨天，记者抢先乘坐地铁5号线新车，体验了从张自忠路站至崇文门站的路段。至此，5号线揭开了最后一层神秘面纱。据轨道交通建设公司透露，地铁5号线将于9月20日通车运营。

站台：透明安全门封闭

一进入张自忠路站，首先映入眼帘的就是一排将站台封得“严严实实”的透明玻璃门，俗称“安全门”，让人靠近时能增加许多安全感。据悉，这排安全门共有120米长。

据了解，在地铁5号线22个车站中的16个车站将安装2.05米高的安全门，6个站安装1.5米的半高安全门。有了安全门，地铁进站后，车门的开口将与安全口一一对应，同步开启关闭，此举将避免再发生乘客不慎跌入或被挤下站台的险情。

行车：行驶平稳无噪音

记者乘坐的新车共由6节车厢组成，每节车厢左右两侧各设4个车门。车厢之间去掉了原有的安全门，可以自由穿行。因此显得更加宽敞、豁亮。新车穿梭在隧道中，感觉不到乘坐普通列车时的颠簸，也听不到普通列车在行进时的“哐哐”的噪声，列车也很平稳，即使起步停车时不用手扶，也感觉不到车晃。

隧道：手机正常接打

跟以往通过天线来传递信号不同，此次地铁5号线设置了专门的商用通讯机房，引入一种新式光缆。今后，乘客即使在地铁5号线的隧道里也能自如接打手机。

记者注意到，在5号线每个站的出入口，有的已经安装好自动售检票系统，有的则是预留好相关闸口。据介绍，该系统将于明年3月启用。

换乘：平行电梯代步 地铁5号线作为一条贯穿南北的线路，沿线与多条地铁线相交，换乘方案显得尤为重要。与既有地铁换乘方式不同的是，地铁5号线首次引入了像机场一样的“平行电梯”，乘客换乘时，乘坐此电梯不用走路便可到达另一车站。地铁5号线共有4个换乘站，在修建过程中要两次下穿地铁2号线（崇文门站和雍和宫站），还要穿过1号线（东单站）和13号线（立水桥北站）。

查询：新闻、天气皆可知

5号线首次使用乘客查询系统，屏幕上有包含目前正在运营的地铁线和在建地铁线的列车时刻查询，还可以查询公交换乘信息、看新闻和天气预报等。

据悉，奥运会期间，该系统还可以收看比赛转播。据介绍，另一套车载子系统，通过车厢中的八块显示屏播放实时新闻、奥运比赛。

应急：每节车厢都设逃生门

新车的每节车厢里都安有两个摄像头，紧挨着摄像头的是乘客紧急报警器。工作人员告诉记者：“一旦发生紧急情况，只要乘客将报警器按响，就可以直接通过摄像头与司机进行视频通话，摄像资料则可以保留一周的时间。”

由于机电系统还未正式使用，因此昨天列车行驶进站后，所有的人都只能通过一个由工作人员手动开启的门进出。原来，这就是车厢内设置的“逃生门”。如果出现紧急情况，乘客可以手动将其打开逃生。

记者在驾驶室中还发现了一个折叠梯。“一旦发生紧急情况，司机将先拉开逃生门，然后放下梯子，乘客可以从这里逃生。而这样的逃生门每节车厢都有一个，充足的逃生门数量可以防止在危急时刻出现拥挤的险情。

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/img-2267157860_NPTddmvbBiHH.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/1177797126795_28819_mqY29ljv5Dlq.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/1_BtuOkCQWvb4H.jpg

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/2_yyH1P2zFMSRN.jpg

Now THAT is a subway system that fits a city like Beijing

anybody has the latest news of Line 4. I have lived along line 4, really hope it can be completed by 2008 Olympics.

yeha! what a futuristic mrt system! :)

It's really convenient when it builts up which almost contains all of our important places.
share with u a website www.foreignercn.com
which u can know more about China.

The new subway trains, manufactured by Qingdao Sifang, will replace all the old trains on Line 1 before 2008 Olympics.

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2007-09-21/U1565P1T1D13942841F21DT20070921110934.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2007-09-21/U1565P1T1D13942841F23DT20070921110934.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2007-09-21/U1565P1T1D13942841F1394DT20070921110934.jpg

Line 1 car interior
http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/20070921_5e727f6d2eeab2e322ed7Kc1ddl0z7Bp.jpg

Line 2 car interior
http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/20070921_48ac30f4ddd3d8eeb5f8eVsWBmOJCz43.jpg

Line 2 new cars
http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/20070921_5890d221dd372fa01a1ebd5UDqYTI1cD.jpg

Nice, much better than the old one.

2007年9月21日，红绿相间的彩色公交车道在北京大望路亮相。据介绍，彩色公交车道通过色彩实现道路的功能分区，有利于道路交通管理和减少交通事故的发生。



http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2007-09-22/U1566P1T1D13944980F21DT20070922003131.jpg

http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2007-09-22/U1566P1T1D13944980F23DT20070922003131.jpg


http://www.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2007-09-22/U1566P1T1D13944980F1394DT20070922003131.jpg

哦,英国早几年有了.
绿色是给巴士行驶的,红色的地方不可以停拍.

Beijing finally decides to cut subway fares to boost public transport


www.chinaview.cn 2007-09-30 19:02:54 Print

BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing government has finally decided to cut subway fares by about 30 percent amid efforts to boost public transport, ease road congestion and improve air quality ahead of the Olympics.

A single pricing system which means a one-way ticket costs just two yuan (27 U.S. cents), down from three yuan, will be introduced on Oct. 7, the same day as the opening of a new subway line which will run through the heart of the city from north to south.

Beijing now has four subway lines with a total mileage of 114 km and they transport about 1.15 million passengers daily, 15 percent of the total commuters.

According to the municipal government, Beijing will add three subway lines next year and the total mileage will reach 200 km.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/30/content_6818860.htm

Thank god they decided to replace the old trains, they were hideous.

it should include highway toll fares.according to world bank,highway toll is as expensive as in germany,result was traffic jam in country road.

I feel universal ticket of two yuan (27 U.S. cents) is a bit too low. But on the other hand it's good to encourage people to take public transportations.

There used to be monthly tickets back in the 90's (one ticket for bus and subway), don't know why they abandonned that practice.

I heard that in 1980s the national government had to pay 400 mil RMB yearly for Beijing Subway, the costs of new construction not included. How much do they pay now?

Too cheap, I don't think single fare prices are the key. Why don't they introduce monthy tickets so that people who use subways several times a day don't pay too much?

This whole tread is totally messed up. I posted after z0rg and my post ended on 4th place. How can that be? :nuts:

Beijing's subway fare is already EXTREMELY low, even when compared to other Chinese cities such as Shanghai for example.

Definitely better than the older trains but still looks a bit... disappointing considering this is the subway of China's capital.

Definitely better than the older trains but still looks a bit... disappointing considering this is the subway of China's capital.



Uh hows it disappointing? I think the trains look decent like any modern subways in China these days, the interior is actually pretty good.

Uh hows it disappointing? I think the trains look decent like any modern subways in China these days, the interior is actually pretty good.
The exterior of the trains don't look all that modern. They look like they may be from the late 1990's but it's already almost 2008. The interior are OK I suppose.

I just expected more as Beijing's subway trains are very old and if they were to replace them with new ones, why not get some that will wow people?

I hear people are talking the same thing in Chinese forums. It's really funny since this is the first time I hear people complain something is too cheap. :)

The problem is that there are already too many people in the subway and there are some design flaws witch don't make the situation better.

The problem is that there are already too many people in the subway and there are some design flaws witch don't make the situation better.
Really? I've been to Beijing several times and the only time I really felt there were "too many people" in the subway is around morning and afternoon rush hours. Aside from that, it's not bad at all.

What are some of the design flaws you're referring to?

There generally too few escalators, the stairways are too narrow so that the people get really packed up when they get out of the train, the connection ways are some times too long (especially the xizhimen station, how could they build something like that?) and there are no boards where you can get the information when the next train arrives. Maybe its not a big deal now, but when the new lines are opening, they should really make the flow on the old lines better, cause they are getting more important (line 1 and 2).

I had the feeling the lines in beijing are much more packed up than the ones in shanghai.

Price cut obviously benefits subway riders,though I hope this will not become temporary measure in preparation for 2008 Olympics

I hope Beijing won't use the tax from other provinces

The only thing that sucks is the extreme small coverage in Beijing by the metro. Even a big attraction like the CCTV Tower is far away from the metro.

The big amount of construction of metros will change that.

Can someone please post a metro plan with the completed 4th line?
I can only remember the one with the 3 lines.

I feel universal ticket of two yuan (27 U.S. cents) is a bit too low. But on the other hand it's good to encourage people to take public transportations.

price is not the factor that deters people from taking public transit, many people avoid it because there are too many people and it is too slow.

too many people, yes in rush hours. too slow? I think subway is much faster than private car/taxi in Beijing.

The only thing that sucks is the extreme small coverage in Beijing by the metro. Even a big attraction like the CCTV Tower is far away from the metro.

The big amount of construction of metros will change that.

Can someone please post a metro plan with the completed 4th line?
I can only remember the one with the 3 lines.

I think the metro will be like this by 2010 (not 2008), CCTV will be located near Guanhualu station on Line 10, which will open by June 2008.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Beijing-2008.png

too many people, yes in rush hours. too slow? I think subway is much faster than private car/taxi in Beijing.

Subway is still ok, but it doesn't cover a huge area, the buses are extremely slow.
Once I tried to get to Shijiegongyuan from Xizhimen, took me 2 hours for me to get to Yuquanying from Xizhimen, I jumped off the bus at Yuquanying and took a cab instead. 10 mins from Yuquanying to Shijiegongyuan.

too many people, yes in rush hours. too slow? I think subway is much faster than private car/taxi in Beijing.

not just rush hour, it always has a lot of people. I used to take air conditioed bus, the ones that don't take monthly pass and they usually have some seats, since they decreased the price and eliminated the monthly pass, those are always full too. When I try to get around in Beijing, I use a combination of taxi and subway, try to avoid bus whenever possible.

not just rush hour, it always has a lot of people. I used to take air conditioed bus, the ones that don't take monthly pass and they usually have some seats, since they decreased the price and eliminated the monthly pass, those are always full too. When I try to get around in Beijing, I use a combination of taxi and subway, try to avoid bus whenever possible.

don't know much about bus since I haven't taken it for some time. A interesting thing I found was many new bus stations are located on the high flyovers (i.e western 3rd ring rd), people have to walk thru a high and long flyover path to the bus stations.

Subway is still ok, but it doesn't cover a huge area, the buses are extremely slow.
Once I tried to get to Shijiegongyuan from Xizhimen, took me 2 hours for me to get to Yuquanying from Xizhimen, I jumped off the bus at Yuquanying and took a cab instead. 10 mins from Yuquanying to Shijiegongyuan.

You should take subway line 2 and line 1 to Gongzhufen or Wanshoulu and take bus/taxi from there, as I knew, south 3rd Ring is not that much jammed.

don't know much about bus since I haven't taken it for some time. A interesting thing I found was many new bus stations are located on the high flyovers (i.e western 3rd ring rd), people have to walk thru a high and long flyover path to the bus stations.

and you know what sucks? they have bus stops on both the express (zhu lu) and collector (fu lu) on second ring and third ring roads,to get from one to the other you need to walk up to the pedestrian bridge, and then walk down, what if I am waiting for two buses that might stop at either station? public transport is extremely flawed in Beijing, in every way imaginable.

Yeah, I agree with Pangu. Those trains seem to be ok, but nothing to freak out about. I think I´ve seen more modern looking trains in Guangzhou and Shanghai last year... Whatever, there`s nothing to be ashame about. :)

I actually like the exterior. It reminds me of the new Tokyo Metro rolling stock, but sleeker.

Got a question, why is Beijing powered by 3rd rail while other heavy metro cities in China are powered by overhead cables?

Nice interiors. The exterior is alright. It's got a modern front end, but the side looks very 1980s, just like Japan's trains.

Most Japanese rolling stock have never really strayed from that industrialist 1960s-1980s look, except for the end faces.

At last, it's way better than the old Soviet-like ones. But the interiors look ikea-ish.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Beijing-2008.png


Line 10 will debut in 2008 brefore Olympics. The new train interior is pretty neat! Pics from beijngupdates.com

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1813/2007111415133106524a00blq2.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3667/2007111415133464164a00arh7.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/192/2007111415753604114a009ft6.jpg

Cool, although slightly dreary with all that generic white.

Are there any exterior pictures?

^^ got this.

http://cimg2.163.com/catchpic/6/6E/6E61B24C6DB0FDF8FB9B162CBFEDE8A0.jpg

　　當日淩晨，北京地鐵10號線首批10列車輛開始陸續進入10號線萬柳車輛段，並將在此完成車輛的例行實驗和信號係統的車載設備實驗，這項工作的完成也為10號線在奧運會前的按期開通和達到最小行車間隔3分半鐘的標準創造了條件.

http://www.skyscrapers.cn/forum/attachments/20071204_f7a535dd030577d9ed3dZVlMeV8AKE7c.jpg

I took the subway in Beijing last week and it was packed to say the least. My friend and I had to wait for 4 trains to leave before we were able to fit onto the thing. Public toilets there aren't the best either and coverage is a little hit and miss sometimes. Little in the way of density in the centre and the buses aren't exactly swift at getting you from A to B.

My biggest problem wasn't those things though. It was the silly one way system they have implemented meaning transfers are rather lengthy. Xizhimen is particularly horrendous. I mean it takes 10 minutes, more, when it's very crowded to get from line to line. No escalators, walking up inclines. One could get a serious work out riding the subway :)

O M G! Weird color!

http://www.cctv.com/video/rediscoveringchina/2007/12/rediscoveringchina_300_20071220_1.shtml

Follow this link and watch the video.

Nice!

I really don't know where to put this article; there really isn't an all inclusive Beijing Metro Thread anywhere.

"Squeezed in" subway ad angers passengers

Fri Feb 15, 2008 11:07am EST

(Reuters) - An advertisement on Beijing's subway proclaiming "Squeezed in?! Go and buy a car then!" has angered passengers who said it only encourages traffic jams, a state newspaper said Friday.

The advertisement, written in large white letters on a red background, is also contrary to the Beijing city government's aim of getting more people to take public transport, the official Beijing Daily said.

"Isn't this out of tune with environmental protection?" it quoted a subway passenger surnamed Yang as saying.

"The company sees subway passengers as potential customers, but the scornful tone of the advertising language exposes a lack of interest in human feelings behind a meticulous design," a female passenger surnamed Liu added.

Some Internet users have come up with their own versions of the advertisement's slogan, the newspaper said, proposing: "Stuck in a traffic jam? Then take the subway!."

But the storm of criticism against the advert, which does not identify the company or organization behind it, may have just the effect the advertisers were looking for, the report added.

"If they only cared about getting eyeballs rather than the impact it would have on people and society, has it not been effective?" the newspaper quoted unnamed experts as saying.

Beijing is spending billions of dollars expanding and upgrading its subway network ahead of this year's Olympic Games, and wants to encourage more people to take trains and buses to help deal with worsening road congestion.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Alex Richardson

a couple of line 10 station renderings from beijingupdates.com

Guomao upper level
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200821614361823600.jpg

Guomao lower level
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/20082161437686069.jpg

Guomao Walkway
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200821614374947045.jpg

Nong Zhan Guan upper level
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200821614402734560.jpg

Nong Zhan Guan lower level
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-2/200821614411135983.jpg

Olympic subway line scheduled for trial in June
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-16 13:42




BEIJING - A new subway line, which runs through the complex of stadiums, gymnasiums and parks for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, is to begin trial operation on June 1, a local rail traffic official said here on Saturday.

Construction of the subway tunnel and stations has been completed, the official said.

The 4.4-km-long line starts from Beitucheng, near the northern fourth ring road, and travels underground through the gymnasium of swimming, the venue for the Olympiad opening ceremony, the Olympic Park and the Forest Park. It has four stops.

Beijing currently has 95 km of mass transit railway lines in operation, of which 54.15 kilometers were build underground.

The city will increase the number of subway lines to nine with a total length of 200 km by 2008, and bring them to 19 totaling 561.5 km by 2020, according to Beijing's city planning authorities.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-02/16/content_6460241.htm

this mrt ´map could be challenging to all non-beijingerss.... i think it pays to be literate in chinese!!! :lol:

I think the metro will be like this by 2010 (not 2008), CCTV will be located near Guanhualu station on Line 10, which will open by June 2008.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Beijing-2008.png

I'm a non-Beijinger and I can understand it fully.

Maybe that's because I can read, write and speak Mandarin.

But besides that, if tourists can learn a little bit of Japanese to navigate around Japan, I don't see why can't they learn or at least recognize a few hanyu pinyin like 'lu' (road/avenue/boulevard), 'dong' (east), 'nan' (south), 'xi' (west), 'bei' (north).

http://static.chinavisual.com/storage/resources/2008/01/22/093349I246840P46760T1.jpg

Guanghua Rd Station
http://static.chinavisual.com/storage/resources/2008/01/22/093349I246838P46760T1.jpg

http://static.chinavisual.com/storage/resources/2008/01/22/093349I246837P46760T1.jpg

Guomao Station
http://static.chinavisual.com/storage/resources/2008/01/22/093349I246839P46760T1.jpg

Wow... The last few look really modern...

And at last, something that doesn't look like Hong Kong's stations. :banana:

Yah the stations on the last few pictures are really nice and very different from other Chinese stations. Hopefully its gonna look something like that

these stations are far too small for Beijing's population

some real pics instead of renderings :)

from sina.com
http://news.sina.com.cn/c/p/2008-02-28/024515033668.shtml

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2008-02-28/U1565P1T1D15033668F21DT20080228105047.jpg http://i0.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2008-02-28/U1565P1T1D15033668F23DT20080228105047.jpg

http://i0.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2008-02-28/U1565P1T1D15033668F1394DT20080228103539.jpg http://i1.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2008-02-28/U1565P1T1D15033668F1395DT20080228103539.jpg

^ WOW Nice!! I love what they're doing. Finally some station that doesnt look like any other Chinese station.

The stations of Olympic Line.
http://i1.sinaimg.cn/ty/o/2008-02-29/U1540P6T12D3502700F44DT20080229105025.jpg
http://www.ce.cn/cysc/jtys/csjt/200802/29/W020080229362408404135.jpg
http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/images/images/00123f37b7de0930ef5401.jpg
http://www.stardaily.com.cn/Upfiles2008/2008-2-29-0-26-30-yxd0802273.jpg
http://img.china.alibaba.com/news/upload/9/news/2006/12/7/300x157_10f5b5604eb.jpg
http://img.china.alibaba.com/news/upload/2006fuzhuang/12/7/2_1165468310680.jpg

Those train stations are spectacular. At least anyone that uses it frequently will know what station they're at just by the visuals.

Wow. I can honestly say I'm impressed by the station designs.

Copy that MTR. :D

The last 2 photos, are that rendering or real finished stations? I remember seeing the rendering just like those two.

Cool, although slightly dreary with all that generic white.

Are there any exterior pictures?

Im pretty sure after a while it would all be plastered with ads.

PLEASE upgrade the existing lines as well... they are horrible!

Wow. I can honestly say I'm impressed by the station designs.

Copy that MTR. :D
As if it's feasible for every subway line to be an expensive architectural masterpiece. Time to hit the books on economics. :)

Wow, those Olympic line stations are wonderful!

It's not a question of economics. It's about having variety.

Every station in Hong Kong has the same design. Don't tell me about the differences, I have had the pleasure of taking all the MTR and KCR lines the last time I was there.

It's not a question of economics. It's about having variety.

Every station in Hong Kong has the same design. Don't tell me about the differences, I have had the pleasure of taking all the MTR and KCR lines the last time I was there.

I don't think so. Compare the tubular design and Chinese calligraphy on the Island Line and parts of the TKO line to the functional above-grade platforms on the open parts of the Tung Chung Line, and then the Disneyland Line.

In fact, even for the [former] KCR lines alone, there are substantial design differences between the older East Rail stations and the newer West Rail stations. That's a very obvious visual difference, too.

In fact, we see this theme of functional architecture in subway systems around the world. Not many places can afford masterpieces for a significant percentage of their stations. That era skipped the rest of the world except Moscow. I don't see much architectural design in the Northeast Line stations either, for example. They are functional boxes repeated over and over and over again.

^^
You've been to Stockholm, hkskyline! A fair amount of the T-stations there are works of art!

^ Actually, functionally they are based on the typical box design, but Stockholm has added some very nice features on top of that box. It's not as extravagant as the Moscow subway though. That one just puts everything over the top! :)

http://www.globalphotos.org/stockholm/20060514/IMG_6437.jpg

http://www.globalphotos.org/stockholm/20060514/IMG_6448.jpg

PLEASE upgrade the existing lines as well... they are horrible!

they're upgraded and refurbished. renovation impossible due to usage and disruption it would generate under a construction bypass.

Beijing's Metro Line 10 welcomes its first passengers
By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-01 09:37


Mrs Zhang is very much looking forward to the opening of Beijing's new Line 10 metro route.

On Friday, the 72-year-old was buffeted and bashed as she tried to get on a bus at Guomao, where she had been visiting her son at his office.

http://xs225.xs.to/xs225/08104/beijingline10314.jpg

She wanted to get to Shuangjing, she said, but the crowds were so big and boisterous, she kept getting pushed to the back of the queue.

However, she knows that when the new Line 10 opens, her journey will be a lot less stressful.

"I really wish I could take the subway. It's faster and less painful," she said, doing her best to avoid the crowds and passing buses.

Scheduled to open in June, Line 10 will provide a high-speed link for commuters - and their elderly relatives - between Bagou in the west and Jinsong in the south.

On Friday afternoon, Zhou Zhengyu, deputy director of the Beijing municipal committee of communications, joined a group of journalists to try out the new route.


The 15.5-billion-yuan ($2.18 billion), 25-km line, along with two other routes linking the airport and the Olympic Green, will open in June, once testing has been completed - just in time for the millions of Olympic visitors, he said.

"But we won't slow down our construction plans once the Games have finished," Zhou told China Daily inside one of the line's new carriages.

"In fact, we will accelerate our development plans to provide an even better service for the people of Beijing."

Since the opening of Line 5 in October, the number of passengers using the subway has risen by more than a third, he said.

By 2015, Beijing's metro will stretch more than 561 km and feature 420 stations, Zhou said.

The existing network spans 155 km and has 93 stations, with the cost to develop each additional kilometer averaging out at about 500 million yuan, Liu Hongtao, a senior official with the Beijing railway transportation construction corporation, said.

He told China Daily the massive infrastructure project was already progressing well.

"Three lines are close to completion, one is under construction, and ground has been broken at six others," he said.

"The total cost of all the extra lines will be something like 200 billion yuan by 2015," he said.

"The government's usual annual budget for public transport is about 1 billion yuan," Zhou, who will be in charge of public transport in Beijing for the next five years, said.

Wang Hailong, who has worked as a taxi driver in the capital for the past five years is not worried about the metro taking away his business.

"The new subway does us little harm," he said. "And it will certainly ease the pain of millions of people who now travel by bus."

Some Cell phone pics from beijingupdates.com.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/784/200804239a4465a17fb2b08aa8.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6878/20080423ed8cee260cebad7xc5.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8352/9338161633562vw8.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9574/9365454841522do9.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/8849/936545898416hz8.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9927/9365467716782gz1.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/893/200804093ae3d34473449f4kn7.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2518/200804093fa1e6c2fb3b1d6iu7.jpg

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/7871/20080409fb12e5ef4c121e7aw6.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/3871/20080409ee8f51506dca9catk2.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8294/20080409eb1255ba4088256li9.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/7654/20080409dc6d46627842e01rw0.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/4192/200804090726723d64ef6e1nz7.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4715/200804099c0a08368769281cc7.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5462/200804094ffb4e591a60a37jl8.jpg

from ditiezu.com

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/9828/2007072839264c163347b87vm2.jpg

The interior of the rolling stock is nice but are those fancy poles actually practical I wonder...

Nice line coming up... :)

some line 10 entrance (U/C) from beijingupdates.com

Nong Zhan Guan Station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-5/20085711592198747.jpg

Guomao Station
http://w.886.cn/64ho/97665222/97665222_8308.jpg

http://w.886.cn/64ho/97665223/97665223_43219.jpg

That's looking really good, I look forward to going back to Beijing sometime and riding on all the new lines.

The station entrances aren't bad but whats with those ugly metal gates for the subway entrance? Those look like its for homes can't they just use those roll down ones like MTR? I also noticed theres no elevators how do people with wheelchair get down?

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-5/2008513210290153.jpg

Any news or new photo ?

When will the line open exactly ?

Any news or new photo ?

When will the line open exactly ?

6.15
http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9017/200861522142287775efa58ox3.jpg

Line 10 will open in 05-July.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_3320605191910468166756.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_33206051919108902808257.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_2020605191857734909245.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_2120605191857171803646.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_21206051918575151391047.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_21206051918578751196148.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_22206051918572501410449.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_34206051919102963088158.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_34206051919106712638359.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_35206051919100311536360.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_3320605191910468166756.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_33206051919108902808257.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_2020605191857734909245.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_2120605191857171803646.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_21206051918575151391047.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_21206051918578751196148.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_22206051918572501410449.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_34206051919102963088158.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_34206051919106712638359.jpg

http://news.xinhuanet.com/photo/2008-06/19/xinsrc_35206051919100311536360.jpg

^^ Thanks. maybe we should open a new thread for the new Line 8, whose stations look the best so far.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-6/20086102313476810.bmp

Line 8's stations look the best so far.

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-6/20086102313476810.bmp

That drums pattern looks really nice.

Thanks

^^ Thanks. maybe we should open a new thread for the new Line 8, whose stations look the best so far.

Yes, we probably should. Maybe call it Olympic Line for now since there are only 4 stations now and the entire line 8 won't be finished until 2011/2012.

open on July 5th 2008 (ditiezu.com)

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4114/20080628921df9bcc5e4368dw2.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/5646/20080628716e2534330a1ebfz3.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/1446/2008062852db1448baf5462zo6.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3773/20080628a87db5b1bc10bfcmr4.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7987/20080628b9d669e46f5ee92if8.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/5162/20080628db19a2eb8662255gb7.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/6439/20080628a3fe98d24912fb1ap6.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7963/20080628951a26e2d42fd90ig6.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/6628/2008062813f833ba1345efeyy2.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8182/2008062870ddffa6eaf6d23ib2.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5368/2008062831cfdc01b0fd00aeb0.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7963/2008062815ffca74e6e8774za2.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/1421/200806283b3fbaea05daa93rp7.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2121/20080628e92a9ac5f8d337ced2.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/9245/20080628555497fb5ae5510sk2.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/808/200806289132641137d8c28nj7.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/725/qqqws3.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9467/asdzg6.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/1772/2008062827721464bbe61ecoi4.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/5082/20080628c306e89f4a6020dxt1.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9421/2008062827be66dee0abd10ww5.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5208/20080628f7612041e748a67ep5.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/4093/20080628085fcc770da8402vo7.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6681/20080628e6803d92d2116acyh3.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3995/200806283aee4ca52fdd55crm7.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2151/20080628bd82dfe853aef4ctq5.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/450/20080628774d49003bc8356uw7.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/2383/2008062825281939e39dd8eqt5.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/5838/20080628b3609bf1b66d80fip0.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2416/2008062892be6fef62a1febwy0.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2765/20080628b3a78ee38b5fc9axf6.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2351/20080628a5e6fa25c61bfe7tw8.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6273/20080628010f1aac5e519f7na1.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/9075/20080628d03bbcfe065fc78zy6.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/6146/20080628e2485280406d302jp0.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/1097/200806294bffe41442fb54ctj7.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3106/20080629fe1d6f38c74d26efk4.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/2161/20080629237c6380cadf602vn8.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/4546/20080629e4724520d6bae07jc3.jpg

Stations (beijingupdates.com)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-6/200863010424553273.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-6/20086282022110632.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-6/200862821305720492.jpg

Line 8 will extend north to Hui Long Guan and Qinghe.
http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/8987/f2007041709034773974182di2.jpg

Olympic line station
http://i1.sinaimg.cn/ty/o/p/2008-06-20/U1752P6T12D3736601F44DT20080620113951.jpg

6. 27 Students from Sichuan earthquake area become the first riders of Olympic line.
http://images.zj.com/news/2008-06-20/981684_1.jpg

its max speed is 110km/h. it has four stations, Dongzhimen, Sanyuan Bridge, T2 and T3, total length is 28.1km, taking 16 minutes.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/8027/xin03201030708049843083ju7.jpg

Opened July 19 2008, here's the latest route map
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2945/200872211565047140vf3.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/6281/200806170248036135fm2.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3003/200806170246285483mp6.jpg

http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/5097/200806170508187309so9.jpg

some pics taken on 6.28 (trial run)
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/2862/080701043133010gg0.jpg http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/346/080701043133011to0.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/7141/080701043133012ry1.jpg http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5411/080701043133015gb8.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7736/0807010431330112yx9.jpg http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8485/080701043133017hd5.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/6582/080701043133019lq8.jpg http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3558/0807010431330111nt6.jpg

先睹为快之北京地铁机场快轨采风

文/凭栏望海

6月28日，机场线第一天全日空载试运行，我有幸在这一天试乘了一下新车，顺便让大家也跟随我体验一番，先睹为快哦。



机场线的起点站在东直门，一共有四座车站，东直门、三元桥、T2航站楼、T3航站楼，全场28.1公里，单程16分钟。我们从银座商厦对面一座红色的酷似机场线列车的入口下去，新装修的车站在红色背景下，绘制了烟台风筝的图案，确实给人以焕然一新的感觉。

机场线新车的设计时速最高可达110公里/小时，而其他新线列车设计时速最高为80公里/小时。当然，设计时速与列车旅行速度不是一个概念，旅行速度还要受线路转弯、爬坡以及停靠站时间安排等因素的限制。

上了车，从外观感觉与以前的地铁风格也有很大不同，好像跟上海的磁悬浮列车有点相似。车内以坐席为主，车厢顶部安装了射灯，提高了美观性，车门采用了与以往不同的外挂式，增强了密闭性。

但其实真正的不同却不是我们能感觉到的，机场线的新车与其他地铁线路相比主要有三点不同，1是车体采用铝合金，比采用碳钢的车体要轻。

2是在主要技术上，采用了直线电机牵引，爬坡能力增强；在制动上采用了电、液压及磁轨方式，从制动响应以及力度上都优于原有的电和空气制动方式；列车转向架采用了先进的径向转向架，可实现小曲线转弯。

3采用了阿尔斯通的完全无人驾驶技术，一旦信号设备完成调试之后，列车可以实行无人驾驶，因此，车内的司机室是开放式的，与客室连通，可以实现司机只在处理故障时才出现在驾驶台，平时的主要任务是为乘客服务。

列车即将驶入T3航站楼。

T3车站很漂亮，与航站楼的风格相匹配。

T3航站楼出发大厅真的很漂亮，尤其是顶部的灯光设计，既有特点，又充分利用了自然光，把环保、节能与视觉效果完美地结合在一起。

T3航站楼窗外的景色。

T2站好像还有些尾工，据说T2航站楼也在装修。

三元桥车站。

机场线目前有5组车在线运行，预计7月2日举行票价听证会，有单程25元和30元两种方案。预计7月中下旬开通。机场线作为为奥运服务的重要交通基础设施，其开通将为缓解机场路交通拥挤，缩短旅行时间，倡导绿色出行做出贡献。

http://ido.thethirdmedia.com/article/frame.aspx?turl=http%3a//ido.3mt.com.cn/article/200807/show1017420c14p1.xxxx&rurl=&title=先睹为快之北京地铁机场快轨采风%28图%29_先睹为快%20——好看又好吃的西瓜人体雕塑%28图%29%20---%20ido.3mt.com.cn

Here I copied some T3 station pictures. Still need station pics for T2, Dongzhimen station and Sanyuan Bridge station. (pics originally from beijingupdates.com)

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7126/200839213683051or8.jpg

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/475/200803061158154817qc0.jpg

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/4560/200803061155518850zw9.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/3676/2008392104235607fl6.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2205/2008392224634962ap8.jpg

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/5417/2008392104284996bk5.jpg

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/4831/200803061138578541qm9.jpg

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/2953/2008392224632352lr8.jpg

Beijing T3 is so beautiful!

I like the stations of BAE too but the blue seat covers look really cheap and ugly.

Beijing T3 is so beautiful!

I like the stations of BAE too but the blue seat covers look really cheap and ugly.

(beijingupdates.com)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523323487315.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008752333312295.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523335073519.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523344632746.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008752336898966.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008752337498657.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523374262512.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523384062317.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523392610630.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523403828853.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523412450422.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523423780439.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087523435028556.jpg

T3 station construction finished, all ready for opening on July 19th. (beijingupdates.com)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014405328447.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014412853501.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014415274111.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014421378676.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087101443139532.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014432386357.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014434878925.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014441338632.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014443763137.jpg

Airport South Expressway
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014532078103.jpg

The train
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200871014523412927.jpg

its max speed is 110km/h. it has four stations, Dongzhimen, Sanyuan Bridge, T2 and T3, total length is 28.1km, taking 16 minutes.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/8027/xin03201030708049843083ju7.jpg

Opening in July 2008.



how does that work out?

Does it go to T2 first, and then turn the direction?

Or are there two lines? one is going to T2 and the other to t3?

one is going to T2 and the other to t3?

Bingo! :D

the train station is absolutely amazing of the new T3 can't wait to head to beijing

the different stations are great i was so impressed with hong kong subway system but i reckon in a few years beijing would be miles ahead...

T2 and Dongzhimen station (beijingupdates.com)

T2 station
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/8650/resizeof200871514554096ng3.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2522/resizeof200871514555454sc1.jpg

Dongzhimen

Entrance
http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/6686/p10007881f801303nl0.jpg

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4319/resizeof200871610467233ty2.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5035/resizeof200871610433962um5.jpg

(beijingupdates.com)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087190202438852.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008719021172472.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087190214754608.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087190221054792.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087190232977521.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008719024570662.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087190242239217.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008719025648129.jpg

Looks good!

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080719/001320d1239309ec09874f.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080719/001320d1239309ec220900.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080719/001320d1239309ec220a01.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080719/001320d1239309ec098850.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080719/001320d1239309ec098851.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080719/001320d1239309ec098953.jpg

(beijingupdates.com)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/26.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/1.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/4.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/5.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/6.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/8.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/9.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/13.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/14.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/15.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/16.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/17.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/18.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/19.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/20.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/21.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/23.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/24.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/27.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/29.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/30.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/cobble/080719/31.jpg

Some stations were renovated. (beijingupdates.com)

Huamao station
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/194/200871217455224801f8077pz8.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/6038/200871217476784401f80b4ic6.jpg

Just a short video of the line 10 from the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7519631.stm

What I really love line 10 is every station is like an art gallery. Every detail is artistic.

Thanks 虎虎(http://www.beijingupdates.com) for the wonderful pictures!

Map
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211565047140.jpg

19日T2车站（站外）、T3车站、T2车站（站内）、三元桥站、东直门站
7.19, T2(inside)->T3->T2(outside)->Sanyuanqiao Station->Dongzhimen Station

T2 station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211304159528.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211312971933.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211314846742.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211322854899.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211401123673.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211403930886.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211405946354.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211412157665.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211413920465.jpg

connection from T2 station to T2 terminal
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211442455101.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211444173459.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211445177821.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221145110062.jpg

7.20

T3 station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211474166312.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221148265878.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211481327217.jpg

on the way to T2 station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221149431256.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211522591505.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211534896681.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221154765881.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211542910153.jpg

arriving T2 station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211562777779.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211564237679.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211582451002.jpg

leaving to Sanyuanqiao station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872211584730029.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008722121287971.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221233099431.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008722124315995.jpg

on the top of Siyuanqiao (4th Ring Road)

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221252048230.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221251148718.jpg

Sanyuanqiao Station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/2008722128772208.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221281749005.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221283922028.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221285269027.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221292452630.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221212285805.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212121414284.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212122722287.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212125119541.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221213466540.jpg

Arriving Dongzhimen station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212141428875.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212201321741.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212202741884.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/20087221223793862.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212224935453.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212242170379.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212243366770.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-7/200872212253435151.jpg

Beijing will open a new BRT line on July 31 to connect Subway Line 10 and Line 2.

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-07-24/134615992430.shtml

how does that work out?

Does it go to T2 first, and then turn the direction?

Or are there two lines? one is going to T2 and the other to t3?

There's only one line, the train will go to T3 first, then T2, from T2 it goes to Sanyuanqiao and Dongzhimen station.

I have updated the route map in the first post.

Definitely better than the older trains but still looks a bit... disappointing considering this is the subway of China's capital.

i think it looks alright...the subway trains in Toronto still look like this:

http://www.joeclark.org/appearances/atypi/2007/TTC/inscribed/images/TorontoArchives_s0648_fl0115_id0002.jpg

however they will replace most of these trains by the end of 2011 i think..& here's the look of the new train

http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/new_subway_train/images/nst_artist_concept.jpg

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/4070/img303126t35cffd5iz0.jpg

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2532/img303125t35d35aaji0.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7937/img303129t35d4cbcjk4.jpg
(2008.sohu.com)

wow so new and looks good! That drinking fountain is so weird, it is in the middle of the way. It should be placed very near to one of the pillar.

Hey I think there is a need for this thread, there are so many threads littering in this section about Beijing transport. I hope we can just put it into one single thread to make it easier to read and search.

Beijing's boom brings a bonanza of buses

2008-08-19


Xie Deming does not have a ticket to any event of the 2008 Olympic Games, but he has found his own way of joining in the Olympic fervor in Beijing. And it costs him just 1 yuan (15 cents).

Like thousands of ticket holders, the 31-year-old migrant worker from Hubei province is making good use of the special Olympic bus routes available to take spectators to the sports venues.

The only difference is that Xie takes the bus to sightsee such Olympic architectural wonders as the Bird's Nest stadium and the Water Cube.

"During the Games, more than 14 million people take the bus as their first choice. Buses today are truly the people's transport," Director Liu Runfang of Beijing Public Transport Holdings Ltd said.

The addition of special bus routes during the Olympics is the latest expansion of this form of public transportation as Beijing tries to keep pace with the increasing demands of rapid urbanization and population growth in the last two decades. The city is encouraging more residents to take the bus with low fares, good facilities and routes with wide coverage.

Last Friday evening, Xie was standing in a line of people waiting for Bus No 1 at the Olympic South Station near Beitucheng East Road. Bus No 1 is popular as it has the giant steel Bird's Nest stadium and futuristic Water Cube on its route. People with tickets for Olympic events, members of media covering the Games and Olympic volunteers can all take the bus for free.

For people like Xie, 1 yuan will provide a nice visual tour of these Olympic venues through the bus window.

"It is a good way to see these Olympic venues," he said. "Otherwise, I can only see them on TV. So I guess this is a good chance to see the real thing up close."

Xie was not alone in the long line this evening. College student Luo Hengzhi and his girlfriend Xu Qing were doing the same thing. "We don't have (Olympic) tickets, but we think it is a good idea to see the blue Water Cube and Bird's Nest illuminated at night," Luo said.

There are other Beijing residents who benefit from the special Olympic bus routes in their own way.

Sun Xiaojing, 27, a contractor at the logistics department at the Olympic village, said that instead of making two changes on the subway, she is taking the bus directly from her home near the Qianmen Street to the village.

"Why not (take the bus)? It is convenient, quick, and cheaper," she said.

Even without the advent of the Beijing Olympics, more than 12 million people take buses every day in Beijing. This public transportation system covers 18 districts and operates 633 routes.

"Beijing is a huge metropolis which means the traffic patterns are complicated for public transportation, so it is very important to arrange the bus routes scientifically," said Zhang Zheng, a 27-year-old conductor of Bus No 27 said.

Zhang has been crazy about buses ever since he was 6 years-old and can tell you where every bus stop is in the city. In July, he published a Beijing Public Transportation Guide which lists more than 5, 000 bus stops in alphabetic order.

"Many bus stops just move away without notice, which causes a lot of inconvenience to passengers. I often go out to check the bus routes and correct the mistakes." Zhang explained.

Those inconveniences pale in comparison to the dramatic changes that 75-year-old retired post office accountant Li Peixin has witnessed in his five decades of riding the public bus.

"I have lived in the Fengtai district since 1960. Back then, there was only one bus route connecting the Fengtai district to downtown Beijing, which was far from the residential area," Li recalled. "And the bus never showed up on time," he added.

A trip downtown meant a half -hour walk to the bus stop, at least a half-hour wait, and a more than two hour long ride for Li.

"People just had to wait for that shabby bus for a long time, freezing in winter or sweating in summer," he said.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080819/0013729e454e0a14614a29.jpg

Today it is less than five minutes' walk for Li down to Xiluoyuan Road where several buses pull up to bus stops. This is where Li has taken the bus every morning ever since he retired in 1995, and he has more than one option.

"It's really convenient. In less than an hour I can reach the Temple of Heaven for my morning exercises," Li said.

It's also cheaper. In the old days, the bus fare started at 4 or 5 fen for the first three stops. Given the low wages, 5 fen was the price of a pancake. Today, everyone can enjoy a ride by bus to anywhere in Beijing at the lowest fare in China. On January 1, the fare on a bus pass was dropped to 40 fen for adults and 20 fen for students.

"Due to the fare adjustment, I can save about 50 yuan a month, which is about half of my original transportation fee," Li said.

The reduction in bus fare is an effective way to encourage people to take public transportation, which helps alleviate traffic congestion, Beijing Public Transport's Liu said.

"In 2005, about 28 percent of residents took the bus," Liu said, "while today more than 34 percent take the bus as their first choice."

Wu Jialu, a white-collar worker, is certainly one. "I will take the bus as my first choice because we enjoy the lowest bus fares in the world, in my opinion," he said.

Deputy Director Zhou Zhengyu of the Beijing Municipal Committee for Communications said Wednesday that the current low bus fares are not just for the duration of the Games but will remain in place for a considerable amount of time afterwards.

"We have successfully brought public transportation into (all) communities as of 2005," Zhou said.

According to Liu of Beijing Public Transport, 131 new bus routes have been added since 2006, 65 of which connects more than 500 communities, including Tiantongyuan, Huilongguan and Fengtai district, to downtown Beijing.

There are eight special Olympic bus routes, which operate between 6 am to 10 pm every day, and 26 express buses, which operate three hours before and one hour after each event at certain venues.

Each venue has at least one special bus that stops directly at the security doors of each venue.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080819/0013729e454e0a14614a2e.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20080819/0013729e454e0a14614a2f.jpg

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-08/19/content_6949658_2.htm

Olympic line during Olympics

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818175186888.jpg

security check
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/20088181819647541.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/20088181820257376.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818201025008.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/20088181821457823.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818211122518.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818213518036.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818214451039.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818221639772.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818235569380.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818234690004.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818252376626.jpg

http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818252942939.jpg

Olympic park station
http://www.beijingupdates.com/forum/UploadFile/2008-8/200881818282596343.jpg
(beijingupdates.com)

stations looks amazing....

wow.... Amazing subway line :)

wow! what a great job! :D

mind blowing =DDDDD

Beijing promises integrated subway service for disabled

2008-08-27


BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Beijing subway staff and volunteers will provide an integrated help service for the disabled during the Paralympics, said the Beijing Subway Operation Co. Ltd. on Wednesday.

The company said disabled travelers would be able to call the subway service center with information on their routes, times of travel and transfer stations.

The center would then inform stations, which would arrange staff and volunteers to help the traveler all the way from buying tickets to getting out of the subway.

The company has installed obstacle-free ramps in each of the 123 stations. Disabled travelers can leave the stations in lifts, wheelchair elevators and stairlifts. It has also installed Braille information boards in all stations.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/27/content_9724688.htm

Beijing police turn back to bicycles

2008-10-02


BEIJING - Bicycles have begun to return to Beijing police on their patrol in the capital city after a 10-year absence.

About one third of the police in Beijing started to patrol on 1,600 bicycles or electric bicycles this October, returning to the tradition in the 1990s.

The measure was taken in a bid to reduce energy consumption and air pollution, said a report from The Beijing News.

The policemen on bicycles also shoulder the responsibility for instant support to places where traffic was inconvenient.

During the past decade, bicycles of police were replaced by motor vehicles.

But in rush hours, police vehicles were often trapped in traffic jams, which resulted in delay of missions, said Ma Aixin, vice chief of the patrolling detachment of the Chaoyang police substation.

"Bicycle could help tackle this problem," Ma said.

According to an unnamed official with the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, the measure could bring police closer to citizens, as policeman by bicycle could stop more frequently on the way while patrolling.

However, night patrolling was still by motor vehicles which would also be used in harsh weather.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-10/02/content_7074118.htm

Thanks for keeping this thread alive, 02tonyl. :)

“more than 12 million people take buses every day in Beijing” :nuts:

I wonder how many buses and subways are enough for this.

Beijing announces $34b traffic plan

2008-11-11

Beijing's traffic infrastructure budget in the next five years will be more than the one for the previous five years, a senior transport official with the municipal government has said.

Liu Xiaoming, director of the Beijing municipal committee of communications, said the city will spend 240 billion yuan ($34 billion) by 2012 to upgrade its traffic infrastructure, Beijing News reported on Saturday.

In the five years before the Olympics, the city had spent 170 billion yuan, Liu said.

"We will make sure our investment on transport infrastructure is no less than 5 percent of our GDP in the coming few years," he said.

The money will mainly be spent on extending the city's subway lines, which currently total 110 km, he said.

By 2012, the city is expected to have 420 km of subway lines in operation, Liu said.

Line 10, with a length of 25 km, has cost the city 13.7 billion yuan, or 548 million yuan per km.

In a bid to accelerate fixed asset investment to maintain stable growth, Beijing has decided to spend much more on infrastructure.

The municipal government said earlier that construction of subway lines 7 and 14 is expected to start within this year.

It now plans to also start construction of Line 15, which connects the Summer Palace with the suburban Shunyi district, within the year.

Liu said the current low traffic fare will not be increased now that the Olympic Games is over.

Ou Guoli, a professor at Beijing Jiaotong University, said it was necessary to develop subways in Beijing as it was one of the best ways to ease traffic congestion.

As car-ownership rapidly increases, Liu hinted that the city was considering containing growth.

He did not elaborate.

He said currently Beijing has 3.4 million cars and if there is no restriction, the number will exceed 4 million in three years.

It took Tokyo, Japan 10 years for the number of cars to increase from 2 million to 3 million.

Beijing Television on Saturday quoted authorities as saying traffic in the past month had fallen by almost 30 percent by banning cars with certain license plates from the roads one day a week and raising parking fees.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/11/content_7191691.htm

from kim @ ditiezu.com

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/8226/20081124955166fc7be2501th9.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/2880/200811249078e7a7fb8fcdfsy9.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/9553/20081124b2be57c722c4e6dwv7.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/2183/2008112441f3f35d4d2aec1dv6.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7554/20081124044c2de4604ecd5hb2.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4296/2008112460cc62858171d52sl8.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5738/20081124637fd6edf4e9c37xz6.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5867/200811243501ac507b79541uo5.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/7987/2008112436236b2851756efeh7.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/3336/20081124919611dbf29a043fv7.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7208/2008112454140194995781fcj8.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5851/2008112634ba45b1ba76529ia1.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/3096/20081124b9a9ec5b8cbbd4djm9.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6016/20081124be060c09b883d23rr1.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/6844/20081124c41bb361473d2edcd8.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5856/20081124ca71891a234947bhf8.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/3281/20081124ce881b711ad5624sx5.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6610/20081124d01c61a92f92ba7jj6.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5909/20081124d369e585d44ec75rm5.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5377/20081124f69f3a330653702dl8.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/4156/20081124f7005f0b04e29b8rt8.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/5175/20081124fe9d0865902af70qt4.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/8530/20081124db5f6cfb93841f0gq7.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7291/20081124fec3215e2a5a2bdou0.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9145/200811248d931d19afbb8fasw7.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6594/200811246e74c8ae6de0712ve6.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1362/200811245f0ef6e21c7bce0ij8.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/4994/200811244c85b33e974549bbf3.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/953/2008112402a687269922c10wa7.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5414/200811241ec10fd53afd383uy3.jpg

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/5203/200811240bdf53466f870c2px9.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/2922/200811240af52c085d0a57duy5.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/3409/20081126ae4656f43ae6736jx1.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9186/2008112617424eeaeeb70c0ce2.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/1681/20081126eb4837f41ef8a65uy0.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7749/200811264e8a88eec687547wv5.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/571/20081126ebffe7faaed8bcbyh8.jpg

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/389/200811260fc65e90846dd3bfy4.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7018/20081126a1442d98d1101d7jr5.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6035/20081126ad013a6802c9f20kn9.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/4341/20081126762df2a37a4447bas5.jpg

Data as of Nov 2008:

Line number: 3
Length: 38km
Stations: 61

Map
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/3850/55179584rg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
(www.chinabrt.org)

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-20-sep-08-kf_211.jpg

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-20-sep-08-kf_064.jpg

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-14-may-07-kf_118.jpg

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-14-may-07-kf_123.jpg

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-14-may-07-kf_122.jpg

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-20-sep-08-kf_200.jpg

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-20-sep-08-kf_013.jpg

http://www.itdp-china.org/i-lib/images/beijing-20-sep-08-kf_357.jpg

Great!

I saw this thread with great interest and what I saw impressed me. Something similar is being attempted in India with minimal success. I have some questions that hopefully Beijing'ers will help answer

1. What is the population of the greater city of Beijing?
2. Is 20000 buses sufficient? How many of these are vestibuled? Whats the seating capacity of each bus?
3. Is BRTS all over Beijing?
4. What is the mix of Buses? All A/C or a mix of old and new?
5. How is Beijing traffic discipline (honest opinion please) Does it compare to Western countries?
6. Are the buses packed or is the frequency sufficient for people to always get a seat?
7. Are bus timetables aligned with the metro and suburban trains?
8. Do you have a system where one can buy a pass to travel on any mode freely?

Sorry, too many questions. Hopefully you can answer.

beijing rail traffic commanding conter--world biggest~~
http://www.zjol.com.cn/pic/0/02/69/39/2693962_679039.jpg
http://www.zjol.com.cn/pic/0/02/69/39/2693963_984611.jpg
http://www.zjol.com.cn/pic/0/02/69/39/2693964_384936.jpg
http://www.zjol.com.cn/pic/0/02/69/39/2693965_568647.jpg

I saw this thread with great interest and what I saw impressed me. Something similar is being attempted in India with minimal success. I have some questions that hopefully Beijing'ers will help answer

1. What is the population of the greater city of Beijing?
2. Is 20000 buses sufficient? How many of these are vestibuled? Whats the seating capacity of each bus?
3. Is BRTS all over Beijing?
4. What is the mix of Buses? All A/C or a mix of old and new?
5. How is Beijing traffic discipline (honest opinion please) Does it compare to Western countries?
6. Are the buses packed or is the frequency sufficient for people to always get a seat?
7. Are bus timetables aligned with the metro and suburban trains?
8. Do you have a system where one can buy a pass to travel on any mode freely?

Sorry, too many questions. Hopefully you can answer.

I'm not an expert, so real Beijingers should correct any of my mistakes

1. 15 million
2. Yes, in fact the real problem is there are too many busses, not enough trains! There are busses all the time, arriving uninterrupted at stations. Very few are vestibuled, but more than in other cities, I'd guess it's around 5%. Seating capacity varies, if you're talking about seats, they range from 10-30, and standing room capacity is from 60-200.
3. No, only a few lines have launched, I haven't seen any IRL actually
4. Mix, with more non A/C busses, but they are trying to get more AC busses as fast as possible. The non A/C busses have fans that blow hot air though!
5. Worse than in Western countries, but much better than other cities of China; it has improved dramatically in such a short time
6. Some are packed, most are not, but not nearly as packed as the subway, it is the most packed subway I've ever been on. You can't always get a seat, I don't think that happens in any city! But you can get a seat about 25% of the time.
7. No, there's no timetable for either (well, maybe there is for suburban trains), but the frequencies are high enough that you don't need to worry
8. There's one for bus, and one for subway, I don't think there's an intermode pass.

Why China need to build Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) ?
You know if you build BRT, then the road will become more narrow than before, you will sacrifice your road body to BRT.

Is it the right choice to build BRT ?
I saw in Singapore, they dont need to build BRT but their bus transport is so good.

Singapore ve 4 million people and without BRT, their traffic jam is ok.

I saw many cities in China have to built BRT, why China dont want followed the example of transport in Singapore ? Transport in Singapore is one of the best in the world. Their subway sistem in modern can be compare to HK mrt.

So I think Singapore is the good example for China to learn.

^^ Perhaps, but does Singapore face the problem of relentless growth where the population doubles every 20-30 years?

Because of the sheer scale of the problem, there will need to be Urban Planning with Chinese Characteristics.

I'm not an expert, so real Beijingers should correct any of my mistakes

1. 15 million
2. Yes, in fact the real problem is there are too many busses, not enough trains! There are busses all the time, arriving uninterrupted at stations. Very few are vestibuled, but more than in other cities, I'd guess it's around 5%. Seating capacity varies, if you're talking about seats, they range from 10-30, and standing room capacity is from 60-200.
3. No, only a few lines have launched, I haven't seen any IRL actually
4. Mix, with more non A/C busses, but they are trying to get more AC busses as fast as possible. The non A/C busses have fans that blow hot air though!
5. Worse than in Western countries, but much better than other cities of China; it has improved dramatically in such a short time
6. Some are packed, most are not, but not nearly as packed as the subway, it is the most packed subway I've ever been on. You can't always get a seat, I don't think that happens in any city! But you can get a seat about 25% of the time.
7. No, there's no timetable for either (well, maybe there is for suburban trains), but the frequencies are high enough that you don't need to worry
8. There's one for bus, and one for subway, I don't think there's an intermode pass.

Thank you. Much appreciated. It looks like Beijing does have too many buses. For a population of close to say 18 million in Mumbai, there is a fleet of just 3500 and they carry just about 4.8 million people. Almost 99% of these buses are non-A/C and each bus has a seating capacity of 55 and standing of 13 but they carry three times that amount. All buses without exception are packed and people are routinely seen hanging out the buses. Mumbai people do prefer the suburban trains and each train has a crush load density of 5500 to 6000 people (The highest in the world) and the travel isn't for the faint hearted. Traffic discipline especially in suburban Mumbai doesn't exist. It does to some extent in the city. Fleet maintenance is a problem combined with the tendency of people to ride all forms of transport and walk on the roads... There is a serious problem.

Did Beijing have some/all of these problems? If so how did you overcome these?

^^Beijing always had a huge amount of buses, but they were more crowded before the subway was expanded. Traffic discipline was improved because of Olympics, and so was the quality of public transport. Beijing has better and cheaper public transport than almost all other cities in China, bus is 1RMB ($.15) and subway is 2RMB ($.3), while my city Tianjin has 2RMB bus and 2-6RMB subway that is never used. I guess the problems were just solved by money and effort; that's what international pressure and attention (Olympics) gets you!

Beijing takes a breather

2009-1-1

BEIJING, beset by choking traffic and heavy air pollution, will take more than 350,000 high-polluting vehicles off inner city streets from today, local media reported.

China's capital has banned cars from the roads on one out of five weekdays based on the numbers on licence plates as part of a six-month trial in the wake of the broader restrictions during the Olympic Games in August that cleared skies and eased congestion.

Drivers of high-emission vehicles will be fined 100 yuan (US$15) if found driving within the city's Fifth Ring Road, a highway on Beijing's outskirts, after a three-month grace period, The Beijing News said. The measure should take about 10 percent of the city's cars off the road. Beijing currently has about 3.5 million registered cars.

The government has also drafted a compensation scheme that will give drivers up to 25,000 yuan if they give up their cars this year. The city will also provide preferential loans to shipping and transport companies to upgrade vehicle fleets to meet low-emission standards.

Beijing authorities have credited the cleaner skies in recent months as being partly due to the traffic restrictions, as well as decreased emissions from shuttered factories in the city's outskirts.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200901/20090101/article_386667.htm

From my own current experience, buses on most lines come very frequently, even during off-peak hours. The bus stops are located very far away from each other, so if u miss a stop, it's a fair bit of walking from the next stop. The subway is very frequent too, but some of the station transfers can get a bit annoying.

Beijing approves new subway line

2009-02-05

BEIJING -- The Beijing municipal government has approved the construction of subway Line 15, which is expected to start within the year.

The approval was confirmed by a document, dated Tuesday and posted at the website of the Beijing Municipal Committee of Urban Planning (BMCUP).

By the approved plan, Line 15 will take a west-east orientation and runs 45.7 kilometers, of which 32 km will be beneath the ground.

Line 15 will be between northern Ring Road 4 and 5. It will start from Xiyuan in Haidian District and end at east of Chaobai River in Shunyi District in the eastern suburbs. There will be 21 stops.

It will be built in two stages. The east section of the subway between Wangjing West Stop and Hedong Stop in Shunyi will be built first.

Line 15 will be finished in 2015.

When it is finished, Line 15 will help alleviate transport pressure on areas around the Olympic Common Domain, where famed Bird's Nest or National Stadium and the Water Cube or National Aquatic Center are clustered, said BMCUP in the document.

Other details about Line 15, such as the cost and term, are not available at the moment.

Beijing has 200 km of subways in service, most of which are in the northern part of the city.

It is determined to vigorously expand track transport in the years to come and is hoping to form a subway network supported by 19 separate lines totaling 561 km by 2015.

The city's spending on infrastructure projects alone will top 160 billion yuan (about US$23.53 billion) this year, and Line 15 is included in the spending list, said Liu Yinchun, deputy chief of the municipal committee of development and reform in January.

By 2015, a total of 8.8 million daily travels, or one fourth of the total journeys made by residents in downtown areas, will be undertaken by metro, comparing to 3.8 million daily travels at present.

The national capital will spend 51.8 billion yuan (about US$7.62 billion) in track transport development this year, according to statistics disclosed by the municipal committee of development and reform.

Line 4, a north-to-south subway under construction, is expected to be completed and put into service this year. This will increase the length of Beijing's subway in service to 230 km, and this mileage will go up to 300 km by 2010.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-02/05/content_7447360.htm

Why I as non-Chinese speaking foreigner let myself ride subway

www.chinaview.cn 2009-03-23

By Huma Sheikh

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhuanet) -- It's always like feeling panicky the first few times in a foreign country when your working place is not within the walking range. In China amid huge crowds of people, traveling, especially for a non-Chinese-speaking foreigner, seems intimidating, but not for me! I have enjoyed traveling in Beijing.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/23/xin_2820306231608843158849.jpg
Huma Sheikh

Getting around in busy Chinese cities, people mostly take the subway and buses, which is one way to save money than taking a cab. Both the subway and buses are extremely crowded throughout the day. People prefer to take the subway to avoid traffic jams even though they have to transfer lines between the stations to get to the destinations.

I also take the subway to and from workplace, covering about 13 km each day. Initially, I feared traveling as a non-Chinese speaking foreigner may do me trouble as I had to change the line in the middle of my journey and go out of the station to enter another line to get to office. Nevertheless, I preferred the subway.

The subway is very well equipped with electronic signboards almost everywhere, consistently popping out destinations both in Chinese and English as each train arrives. The announcement also follows the arrival of the next train, again both in English and Chinese and there is hardly any chance of getting lost, even for a first-timer who has just arrived in China. Every station has moving walkways for easier movement, escalators and a host of other relevant facilities amid huge crowds -- which is no wonder to find in Beijing, the capital of the world's most populous country.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-03/23/xin_2920306231555406232418.jpg
Beijing subway

As I started getting used to my route gradually, I would think how easily we overlook observing things around in our native country; maybe the comfort zone of being in one's own country and speaking native language is too much a reason to think about it. I have many a times traveled by the subway -- it's metro in India; nonetheless I had hardly paid any attention to the bilingual announcements made in Hindi and English. Nor did I know how it would be like to a foreigner if there were no English announcement, other than the native language.

Subway in Beijing, whose ridership averages 3.4 million per day and set a daily record of 4.92 million on Aug. 22 last year, looks like a different world where traveling and getting to the destination seem the only thing on the travellers' mind.

As a train rolls out, transporting thousands of people in one go, another large group of people shows up within seconds and with it continues their "unending" struggle to get to "behind the Yellow line" to make sure they embark on the next jammed-packed train. This process of jostling, embarking and disembarking repeats itself throughout the day until the last train at 2300 hrs. The service starts again at 0500 hrs in the morning. The time-line between the arrivals of each train is two minutes.

The Beijing Subway is growing rapidly with eight lines in service currently, covering a total length of 199.31 km. The extensive underground rail system is contemplating having a mileage of up to 561 km, much ahead of the well-established systems in Paris Metro and London underground, by 2015.

While I was satisfied with the way subway ride was going, I began to be soaking in an ususual feeling. A lady on a train sat beside me the other day and inadvertently put a volley of questions to me. She wanted to know about a specific station. Because of my inability to speak Chinese, I was unable to answer her queries. The moment was dreary to me and I felt that everyone was looking at me and waiting for me to answer. However, I also felt elated because the moment encouraged me to think I am part of the country, part of its people and that I must learn to speak Chinese as quickly as possible.

Beijing subway planning 2010-2015

2.6版更新内容：
1.添加3号线、11号线、16号线线路具体走向及车站位置及12号线大致走向(12号线具体站位暂时未知，仅得知走向)
2.添加各规划/建设线路的车辆段及停车场
3.添加1号线西延线路，修改“四惠”、“四惠东”图标为普通车站(预计2010年开放西延3站，并与八通线贯通)
4.添加9号线西延线路

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3997/572331238515008tbj3a68d.jpg

(ditiezu.com)

Great plan... but the map is just awesome! I wish they will keep the plans comming true!

Hello. I'm looking for diagram for station layout and can't find it. Does anybody have it?
I'm looking for small diagram they usually have in the subway stations to show general exits and directions.
Guomao station seems very complicated!

Where do you want to go? There are 7 exits at Guomao station.

Line 1: A, B, C
Line 10: E1, E2, F, G

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8082/ntd110000bjylxb20090318.jpg

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8082/ntd110000bjylxb20090318.jpg

If you read Chinese , you can refer to
http://press.idoican.com.cn/detail/articles/2009031840061/

(idoican.com.cn)

The 28km subway, running through west Beijing, will open next week.

http://i3.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/2009-09-19/U2181P1T1D18684510F21DT20090919132304.jpg

(http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-09-19/132318684510.shtml)

http://i362.photobucket.com/albums/oo63/fowler218/042AA7B9.jpg

That's massive XD

http://pic1.dbw.cn/0/00/09/83/98304_911336.jpg
All the stations along the new line that links together Beijing's southern Fengtai District and northwestern Haidian District are fully decorated, according to MTR Corporation. Following testing, Line 4 is set to open on October 1 this year. [Photo: CFP/ Jiang Daizheng]

http://img4.cache.netease.com/photo/0001/2009-09-22/5JQ8S4SU00AN0001.JPG

Beijing Zoo Station
http://img4.cache.netease.com/photo/0001/2009-09-22/5JQ8S40900AN0001.JPG

http://img3.cache.netease.com/photo/0001/2009-09-22/5JQ8S2S100AN0001.JPG
Yuan ming yuan station

http://img3.cache.netease.com/photo/0001/2009-09-22/5JQ8S29M00AN0001.JPG
Workers test the check-in machine in National library station

^^BM, do you know when that subway plan will be completed? It looks very complete and really impressive.

^^BM, do you know when that subway plan will be completed? It looks very complete and really impressive.

Yes, it looks quite different from the classic 2015 plan I usualy see...is that something to be completed around 2020 (or maybe even 2025)?

^^I'd guess 2030, but I honestly have no idea.

The subway plan 2020 is the latest. I guess, that is!

Too bad there's a lot of missing photo. I miss a lot.

I found link about Beijing Subway:
http://en.beijingology.com/index.php?title=Beijing_Subway

The subway plan 2020 is the latest. I guess, that is!

Yes, even as far as I know, 2020 is the latest plan there is.....But I never realized it was so MASSIVE :D

As huge as Beijing is there is a lot of ground to cover

As huge as Beijing is there is a lot of ground to cover

That plan pretty much cover the entire urban area of BJ..and is more than enough, perfectly on line with european and also japanese cities. BJ municipality is as large as Belgium, and the largest part is not urban. there's no point in extending a subway net in non urban areas....Unless u think that Belgium is covered with a subway net itself :)

Beijing's new subway line to open Monday

2009-09-25

A new subway line is to open in Beijing next Monday, three days ahead of the National Day of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1, local authorities said Friday.

The No 4 subway line, which runs south to north through the heart of the city, is 28.2 km long with 24 stations. It is expected to transport more than 400,000 passengers a day.

The subway project had passed inspections by local authorities in regard to construction, urban planning, quality supervision, fire prevention and environmental protection, and the new line would begin operating on Sept 28, a spokesman with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-rural Development said.

Currently, Beijing has eight subway lines covering 200 kilometers.

The city government plans to build more subway lines, increasing the total length of the city's subway system to 300 km by 2010 and 560 km by 2015.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-09/25/content_8737030.htm

New Subway line to accelerate Beijing life

2009-09-27

A new subway line will start operation in Beijing just before China's National Day on October 1. But the exact date remains unannounced.

With a total length of 28.2 kilometers, the Subway Line 4 runs through the city from the northwest to the south.

It will help relieve the pressure of old tube lines by offering an alternative access point to some of the most crowded stations such as XIDAN, which is the center of many shopping malls and is also a rising financial centre.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c29160d05.jpg
The ceiling of XIDAN Station is designed to represent copper coins

The new line will also for the first time service many other key places of the city where traffic is not so efficient. For example, it will shuttle people to Beijing's IT centre ZHONGGUANCUN, which is known for its enduring traffic jams. A subway station will also be located inside the Beijing South Railway Station, allowing riders to take the tube right after getting off the train.

Apart from the convenience brought by Line 4, each station also provides a pleasant and diverse visual experience to travel weary commuters.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c2916d306.jpg
The Beijing Zoo Station is decorated with pandas.


This station's ceiling is full of abstract balloons and its walls are covered in gorgeous cartoon frescos. The Beijing Zoo station is targeted towards childrens' taste as much as the zoo itself.

In comparison to this liveliness, the area of YUANMINGYUAN Park is designed to show the gravity of history. The relief sculpture depicts the relics in the park, with the years of when it was constructed, ruined, and burnt.

The peeling stone may look a bit abrupt in this clear and modern environment, but the contrast seems to remind us that no matter how fast-paced, how fancy our life is now, roots should never be forgotten.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c29175607.jpg
The relief sculpture in YUANMINGYUAN Park Station depicts the relics in the park.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c2917ad08.jpg
The Beijing Zoo station's ceiling is full of abstract balloons

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c29180409.jpg
The interior design of XIYUAN Station is a combination of modernism and Chinese tradition.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c2918640a.jpg
The Beijing Zoo Station is targeted towards childrens' taste with its gorgeous cartoon frescos.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c29199c0b.jpg
This photo shows the inside of the new train of Line 4.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20090927/001ec92bc92b0c291a0d0e.jpg
This photo shows the inside of ZHONGGUANCUN Station,the IT centre of Beijing.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/video/2009-09/27/content_8741665_4.htm

http://www.maply.cn/dis/attachments/day_090715/20090715_81cf287dec9e96180baaAMsFwybOY6PU.jpg

^^^^U are my hero...I just wanted this big version :D

Beijing subway transported 5.13 million people on 10.23, a new record, mainly due to the opening of line 4 one month ago.

The new line 4 transported 570k passengers, line 1 takes 1.2 million pax on 10.23.

(http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-10-24/202318900768.shtml)

How are the Beijing forumers enjoying Line 4. Is it better than line 10. When I lived in Beijing i didnt like the functionality of the subway, but I did feel that the newer lines aka line 5, 10, and 8 were decorated nicely. How is the timing of the trains on line 4. What is are the transfers line. Is Xizhimen convenient? I am just curious.

Five more subways set to roll this year

2010-01-07

Beijing will complete its construction of five new subway lines and start work on another four this year, authorities said yesterday.

Liu Yinchun, deputy director of the Beijing municipal commission of development and reform, said the five new lines ready this year are Yizhuang line, Daxing line, Changping line, Fangshan line and the first phase of line 15, making a total track length of more than 300 km.

The city will also kick off the construction of another four subway lines.

They are line 7, line 14, Xijiao line and S1 line - the first railway in China to handle medium and low speed maglev trains.

The S1 line will run from the west fourth ring road to the center of Mentougou district.

It will be able to handle maglev trains capable of speeds of 160 km per hour, twice as fast as standard underground trains, and is scheduled to open in 2015.

Liu said Beijing now has nine subway lines under construction, totaling another 209 km.

"I don't think any other city in the world can surpass Beijing in terms of subway line construction speed," Liu said at a news conference yesterday at the commission.

The average number of daily subway passengers in Beijing was 4.8 million in 2009, accounting for 34 percent of the total number of passengers that use public transport.

"We aim to lift the percentage to over 50 by the end of 2015," Liu added, "At that point, the total length will exceed 561 km."

Beijing has long faced a serious traffic problem from its enormous population and a flawed public transport system.

The government invested 10.3 billion yuan in various transport programs in 2009, equaling 75 percent of the whole infrastructure investment.

Liu admitted that Beijing's transport system continues to drag behind the ever-increasing demand, but the government has decided to maintain the high investment rate.

Most Beijing residents are looking forward to seeing more subway lines open this year.

Zhao Yan, a 25-year-old girl who lives in Shunyi district, said she usually takes the bus to office, but will start using line 15 when it opens.

Gregor Lippe, a German who has lived in Beijing's Gulou Street for over six years, said the subway lines are good news.

"I prefer to take the subway because I don't drive. It's faster and safer," he said.

But not everyone is happy about the current plan.

"Nine lines are far from enough for a city of this size," Li Xiaobin, a 27-year-old subway guard in Yonghegong subway station, told METRO yesterday.

"And I don't think the new lines will help much because more people will just decide to take them."

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/metro/2010-01/07/content_9277931.htm

come cross this futuristic bus planning in Beijing

China Plans Huge Buses That Can DRIVE OVER Cars (PHOTOS)

China has overtaken the United States as the world's biggest producer of greenhouse gases and biggest energy consumer.

But the country is also thinking in big and bold ways when it comes to how it will reduce pollution and a new plan to build a "straddling bus" is among the most space-age schemes yet.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/189194/CHINA-BUS.jpg

In an effort to go green and relieve congestion without widening roads, the Shenzhen Huashi Future Parking Equipment company is developing a "3D Express Coach" (also known as a "three-dimensional fast bus").


The innovation will allow cars less than 2 meters high to travel underneath the upper level of the vehicle, which will be carrying passengers (PHOTOS).

According to China Hush, the 6-meter-wide 3D Express Coach will be powered by a combination of electricity and solar energy, and will be able to travel up to 60 kilometers per hour carrying some 1200 to 1400 passengers.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/189196/CHINA-BUS.jpg

The first 115 miles of track is set for construction in Beijing's Mentougou district starting in late 2010. The Chairman of the Huashi Future Parking Equipment company boasts it will take only a year and 500 million yuan (around $73 million) to build the futuristic transportation system.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/189197/CHINA-BUS.jpg

-- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/03/china-plans-huge-buses-th_n_669166.html

Beijing- Langfang (hebei province) Light rail, line L2 to open in 2011

Length: 35km

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2010-11-12/U5214P1T1D21458459F21DT20101112063735.jpg

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/p/2010-11-12/063621458459.shtml

^^ Yuss!! I've been waiting for this!

Where is in Beijing is the station located though, looks kinda far from central areas.

^^ you are right. L2 will connect with the one end of Yizhuang line (opening this year)

^^ It should take about an hour to get to Dongdan Metro Station on Line 2 after transferring to the Yizhuang line and then going onto Line 5. Still cool though.

Beijing subway transported 5.13 million people on 10.23, a new record, mainly due to the opening of line 4 one month ago.

The new line 4 transported 570k passengers, line 1 takes 1.2 million pax on 10.23.

(http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2009-10-24/202318900768.shtml)

The record will be broken soon when 5 new lines open by year end.

108 km metro length will be added by year end

108km metro length will be added by year end, with the opening of

Daxing line, Yizhuang line, Fangshan line, Changpin Line (phase I) and line 15 (phase I)

轨道新增运营里程108公里
　　今年底前，大兴线、亦庄线、房山线、昌平线一期和15号线（顺义线）一期一段5条轨道交通线路将开通运营。

source (http://forum.home.news.cn/detail/80026164/1.html)

http://i2.sinaimg.cn/dy/c/p/2010-11-12/U5214P1T1D21458459F21DT20101112063735.jpg
What is L2 on this map?

^^ The blue line connected with a big red dot in the circle, marked as "北京至廊坊城际铁路"

Gosh I can't wait until they open more lines. But what this city really needs fast is the future line 6 and 8.

..

^^ It just boggles me that, despite an already impressively extensive mass-transit system, the vehicle traffic in much of Beijing's major thoroughfares still reach ridiculous proportions during rush hours.

Heck, some Beijingers even say there's no point in waiting-out for the morning and evening rush hours to be over because the highways are stuck in perilous traffic all day anyway.

What did Shanghai do right that Beijing didn't. I mean, aside from the ambitious mass-transit rail network it is building, Beijing also has an equally impressive bus metro network.

I mean, I know that the car ownership is far higher in Beijing (like 3.5 million more) than in Shanghai. But given that Beijing has a fast-growing mass-transport network on par with Shanghai's, I would have hoped that more car owners would have opted to take the subways or buses more often by now.

Is it because Beijingers' just really love their cars?

^^ Maybe because Beijing's CBD is concentrated in only one area (very small compare to Shanghai's multiple CBDs) while Shanghai have on both Pudong and Puxi.

Beijing's subway system only has 147 statioins which is much lower than Shanghai metro's 269 stations. Until line 6 and a few other lines are completed by 2012, Beijing's traffic will continue to be a nightmare.

Even shanghai's subway station number is low considering it's total metro length. More stations, interchange underground walkways, signs should be added to facilitate metro riding.

Beijingers going to Shanghai are often amazed how well Shanghai's traffic flows, and Shanghainese who usually moan at traffic problems at home are just thankful they live in Shanghai whenever on a visit to Beijing. One thing Shanghai definitely got right was introducing a numberplate auction scheme which has done its part in limiting private vehicle growth in Shanghai. On top of that Beijing's urban fabric is definitely far too car-friendly. Though local permeability is OK, the major roads limit pedestrian flows far too much, and cut off minor roads too. That means bus routes cannot penetrate hearts of communities, and bus stops difficult to access. Beijing Subway lines are still few are far between, and lines tend to be short forcing long-distance travellers to change rather a lot. Compared to Shanghai, using public transport in Beijing would quite possibly require more changes and a longer and less pleasant walk.

Added to all that a very high proportion of Beijing residents are senior public sector workers with generous salaries and vehicle provisions, and a culture of status means that car owners very seldom use alternative modes of transport.

Responding to Cocomilk's point in post 221 - I actually think the opposite. Shanghai's business activity is mostly concentrated within the Inner Ring Road, concentrated around Huangpu, Luwan and Lujiazui, and spreading out to Jing'an Temple, Xujiahui and Huamu along Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road and Shiji Ave respectively, while Beijing has a cultural city centre with businesses dotted in the belt between the second and third ring roads. Without a dominant single core traffic patterns in Beijing are more sporadic, and in these situations public transport has a harder time competing with private transport.

Agree. In terms of public transportation, Beijing is way behind Shanghai. I lived in both cities for years.

How do those cities compare to Guangzhou, the city with the third largest metro and one of the highest ridership's per kilometer of metro?

Agree. In terms of public transportation, Beijing is way behind Shanghai. I lived in both cities for years.

^^ Really?! Is it really "...way behind..."?

I was talking about the road planning, infrastructure management, metro design, traffic control policies etc, not only the hardware. Shanghai is not the best but Beijing is poor on this respect.

I was talking about the road planning, infrastructure management, metro design, traffic control policies etc, not only the hardware. Shanghai is not the best but Beijing is poor on this respect.

I thought Beijing would have better, higher quality metro stations then Shanghai. Those stations near the Olympics stadium are very well decorated in spite of they look a bit artificial. Some stations in Shanghai do not even have a proper ceiling.

Beijing subway carriages are of a smaller variety (B-type as opposed to Shanghai's larger A-type), and route alignments are diabolical - so many short segments they call lines going from nowhere to nowhere. Functionality-wise Beijing Subway is way behind Shanghai Metro. Or as we like to say, 上海甩北京几条横马路哩。

Beijing subway carriages are of a smaller variety (B-type as opposed to Shanghai's larger A-type), and route alignments are diabolical - so many short segments they call lines going from nowhere to nowhere. Functionality-wise Beijing Subway is way behind Shanghai Metro. Or as we like to say, 上海甩北京几条横马路哩。

Well, maybe cause the system is still "work-in-progress", more than Shanghai's is?? The one u call "short-segments" (and except the first part of line 8, for now, I don't see nothing properly "short") are segments of the entire line that have been open before the rest (as I see it, better something earlier that everything way later). U'll see some real segments soon, with the 1st part of Changping line and the first part of line 15 which will open at the end of the year. To say "going from nowhere-to-nowhere" also is a nonsense...except for Fangshan line (which as well will open at the end of the year) which really is disconnected from the rest of the net, cause line 9 won't open in time, all the others line or segments of lines are interconnected. I guess for the people living on those lines, to be able to get closer to the center, or to be directly connected with the rest of the net, without using cars or buses is a good improvement.

Beijing subway carriages are of a smaller variety (B-type as opposed to Shanghai's larger A-type), and route alignments are diabolical - so many short segments they call lines going from nowhere to nowhere. Functionality-wise Beijing Subway is way behind Shanghai Metro. Or as we like to say, 上海甩北京几条横马路哩。

A few of Shanghai's metro are with the B-type you have mentioned. Like the third line in People's Square station (line8?) and the pink line in Pudong. Are all of Beijing's carriages the smaller type?

Ahaha nice idiom :D

A few of Shanghai's metro are with the B-type you have mentioned. Like the third line in People's Square station (line8?) and the pink line in Pudong. Are all of Beijing's carriages the smaller type?

Ahaha nice idiom :D

In fact lines 5, 6 (Pudong's pink line) and 8 (People's Square's 3rd line) use the even smaller C-type. Nothing wrong with line 5 using small trains but but they are just a disaster on 6 and 8.

Yea pretty disastrous, especially on line 8. You cant get more crowded than in line 8.

Though Line 10 seems to be helping a bit, and the most crowded title is currently securely held by line 2. Who thought it was a jolly good idea to connect all business districts with one line (nothing wrong in itself mind) and not provide any alternatives.

Line 2 is the ONLY line serving Lujiazui.
What do people from Lines 6 and 9 from the East change onto? Line 2;
What do people from Lines 7 and 11 from the West change onto? Line 2;
What do people from Lines 1 and 10 chang onto to get to Lujiazui? Line 2.

Genius!

I hope this hasn't been posted before. A Discovery Channel documentary about construction of Beijing Metro which is describes as "to become the largest metro system in the world". A pretty interesting watch. http://www.56.com/u72/v_NTE0NTAzMTc.html

Beijing is releasing new policies to ease traffic problem.



Beijing’s new policies to relieve traffic congestion boost car sales

By Zheng Yi

The automobile market and the business of parking lots have been boosted after the Beijing government announced its new regulation to ease the city’s traffic congestion, Beijing Times reported on Thursday.

The new rules will reportedly include requiring buyers to show their parking permits, or their Beijing hukou, when purchasing a car.

But the Beijing Times said that rules such as not allowing those without a Beijing hukou to buy a car will not be implemented in the short term, because officials and various experts disagree on this rule.

The number of new vehicles rose to 20,000 last week in Beijing, a growth rate higher than usual, according to the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau on Sunday.

An employee surnamed Li who works at the Audi 4s store in the city’s Chaoyang District, told the Global Times on Thursday that their cars have been selling very well since the end of November.

“Many popular cars are in short supply and customers need to reserve one in advance,” Li said. She added that people without a Beijing Hukou can still purchase cars in her store.

Song Yongjun, 26, a managing director of Ping An Bank in the downtown area of Beijing who does not have a Beijing hukou, told the Global Times on Thursday that he decided to buy a car next week in case the new rules are implemented.

“I planned to buy a car at the beginning of next year, but the government’s new rules forced me to change my plans. I think it is not a good idea for the government to place restrictions on members of the public regarding buying a car, as we have the right to do so. If the government wants to solve the traffic jams, it should pay more attention to the city planning,” said Song.

Shanghai also struggles with a serious traffic problem, but the Shanghai government has a different measure to deal with the situation – by selling car plates at a very high price.

“An ordinary car plate in Shanghai costs about 40,000 yuan ($5,700) so many non-native residents of Shanghai use car plates registered to their hometowns,” Yan Dongdong, who lives in the financial hub, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Sun Zhang, a professor with the Urban Rail and Railway Engineering Department of Shanghai’s Tongji University, told the Global Times on Thursday that the measures taken by the authorities in Beijing and Shanghai could help to control the increasingly serious traffic issues, but he did not agree with the governments’ policies of placing restrictions on people wishing to buy cars.

“Technically speaking, the government should not place restrictions on its citizens who wish to buy a car, because a car is a sort of symbol in modern culture, and people’s desire to own one cannot be suppressed. Therefore, I suggest that the government should limit how people use their cars, instead of restricting their purchases. The government could think of ways to encourage people to use cars in their leisure time rather than to get to work every day,” said Sun.

Beijing shows public transport gusto with new subways

By Michael Martina

BEIJING | Thu Dec 30, 2010

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing opened five new subway lines Thursday, an urban planning show of force highlighting the investment the city has thrown behind public transport to curb its notorious air pollution and traffic congestion.

Costing nearly 61 billion yuan ($9.2 billion), the newly constructed lines -- most connecting the distant and dusty suburbs to the city center -- bring Beijing's subway network to 336 km (209 miles).

That distance is just a fraction of what the city government has planned, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport told reporters at the unveiling of the city's No. 15 line.

Beijing aims to have a 561-km-long subway network by 2015, and is planning for between 700 and 1,000 km by 2020, Li Xiaosong, the deputy director of the commission told Reuters.

"If we are comparing ourselves to London, New York or Tokyo, we are still in the early stages of development, but this shows the Beijing government's strategic investment priority in public transport," Li said.

At rush hour on some of Beijing's central subway lines, queues with Beijing's 5.3 million daily riders can be three and four trains deep, with platform attendants pressing arms and legs in behind closing train doors.

The city has invested more than 250 billion yuan in rail and road links over the past five years, 51 percent of which went to public transport, Li said.

With the flurry of subway construction, city leaders are attempting to make good on promises to clean up Beijing's skies and clear traffic gridlock.

In January, Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong promised to give greater priority to public transport by building bus lanes and new subway lines and removing high-emission vehicles from the road.

Beijing's plans to boost public transport are all the more urgent with this month's announcement of a controversial quota on new passenger vehicles in 2011, limiting new registrations to 20,000 a month.

The growth of the city's subway network matches the rapid expansion of the city itself.

Large swathes of treeless land wait for the development that will likely sprout beside an elevated portion of the new No. 15 line, which arcs through the suburbs northeast of Beijing.

Less densely developed areas by the new lines have been paired with 21 park-and-ride lots.

But indicative of the woes of planning transportation in a city of 19 million, increased subway access for Beijing's suburbanites may exacerbate the network's overcapacity issues before it makes them better, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transportation said.

Passengers transferring from new to central subway lines could raise the number of riders to 155 percent of capacity during peak hours on some lines, potentially forcing temporary station closures on overcrowding fears, the commission said.

($1=6.620 Yuan)

(Editing by Sui-Lee Wee and Ben Blanchard)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BT1WX20101230

Low speed maglev S1 line to start construction on Jan 10th

The new line will connect Mentougou with Shijingshan, 10.236km. The project will complete by the end of 2013.

记者从石景山区两会代表咨询会上获悉，联结门头沟、石景山区的中低速磁浮交通示范线S1线将于本月10日开工，2013年底建成通车。

　　此外，地铁快轨R1线初步规划经过首钢厂区、金融街、王府井、运河中心区等；地铁M6、M11线也已启动前期方案研究。

　　S1线 两站可换乘地铁

　　据石景山区规划分局相关负责人介绍，北京市中低速磁浮交通示范线S1线（西段）西起门头沟石门营，终点为石景山苹果园站，全长10.236公里。其中，石景山段长3.4公里，设苹果园站和金安桥站，今后两站均可实现地铁换乘。其中，在苹果园站可与地铁M1、M6线换乘，金安桥站与M11线换乘。

　　他介绍，S1线将在本月10日开工建设，预计2013年底建成通车。

　　M6线 将分三期建成

　　该负责人表示，目前，两条地铁M6线、M11线正在进行前期方案研究。根据初步规划，地铁M6线将作为连接石景山、通州新城与主城区的一条轨道交通快线，起点位于通州区小营，终点为石景山苹果园，全长52公里。

　　其中，一期工程为五路居站至草房站，长30.69公里，计划2012年底建成。二期工程为草房站至东小营站，长12.3公里，计划2015年建成。

　　三期工程苹果园至五路居全长9公里。从五路居起向西南沿田村路向西，下穿西五环，在西黄村转向苹果园南路。其中石景山段长约3.3公里，推荐方案全部为地下线，设苹果园、苹果园中学、西黄村3座车站。届时，苹果园站将作为换乘站，和M1、S1线实现换乘。

　　此外，新规划的地铁M11线是北京南部一条东西向轨道交通干线，以金安桥为起点，由西北向东南纵穿首钢中心厂区，再向东经过鲁谷居住区、青塔居住区、六里桥枢纽、西站南和丽泽商务区，最终到达化工二厂。据悉，地铁M11线规划全长35.9公里，目前具体站点、开工时间还未确定。

　　R1线 由门头沟延至通州

　　针对北京规建的地铁快轨R1线，该负责人表示，按照目前规划，R1线全长52.3公里，将成为北京最重要的东西向交通走廊。

　　R1线将沿长安街向东西延伸，从门头沟新城一直延伸至通州商务中心区。R1线主要经过的功能区将包括门头沟新城、首钢厂区、鲁谷居住区、公主坟商圈、运河中心区等。

^^
This is very interesting news. I have always wondered why maglev tecnology is not used for urban subays? It would be quieter and have better acceleration while not requiring the capability of running on any other infrastructure other than of a specific sybway line. Acceleration is very crucial for urban subways to achieve higher capacity.

Five subway lines opened on Dec 30

Line 15 (phase I section I): Wangjing West - Houshayu 20.2km
Changping Line: Xi'erqi - Nanshao 21.24km
Daxing Line: Gongyixiqiao - Tiangongyuan 21.7km
Fangshan Line: Suzhuang - Dabaotai 24.7km
Yizhuang Line: Songjiazhuang - Yizhuang Railway Station 23.3km

http://j.imagehost.org/0462/2841_67095_456296.jpg

http://g.imagehost.org/0976/2841_67097_659548.jpg

http://j.imagehost.org/0238/2841_67098_219691.jpg

http://j.imagehost.org/0465/2841_67099_134841.jpg

http://g.imagehost.org/0176/2841_67100_548114.jpg

http://g.imagehost.org/0467/2841_67161_197721.jpg

http://g.imagehost.org/0319/2841_67162_514982.jpg

http://g.imagehost.org/0046/2841_67163_749949.jpg

http://j.imagehost.org/0656/2841_67164_203650.jpg

http://j.imagehost.org/0493/2841_67165_171844.jpg

new Beijing subway map

http://www.bjsubway.com/templates/images/pic_dtyyxlt.jpg

(sina.com)

4.28 Beijing Subway reached record volume at daily ride of 8.391 million

The highest volumed 3 lines are:

line 1: 1.6 million
line 2: 1.5 million
line 4: 1.2 million

Source (http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2012-04-29/165124349033.shtml)

4.28 Beijing Subway reached record volume at daily ride of 8.391 million

The highest volumed 3 lines are:

line 1: 1.6 million
line 2: 1.5 million
line 4: 1.2 million

Source (http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2012-04-29/165124349033.shtml)

Does that daily volume put Beijing subway in the busiest 3 subways in the world?

The most-used metro systems in terms of passenger rides per year:

1. Tokyo Subway (Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway only) 3.161 billion (2010) [1][2][Note 1]
2. Seoul Subway (Seoul Metro, SMRT and Seoul Subway Line 9 only) 2.429 billion (2010) [Note 2]
3. Moscow Metro 2.3888 billion (2011) [3]
4. Beijing Subway 2.18 billion (2011) [4]
5. Shanghai Metro 2.101 billion (2011) [5]
6. Guangzhou Metro (including FMetro) 1.64 billion (2011)[6]
7. New York City Subway 1.640 billion (2011) [7][Note 3]
8. Paris Métro 1.506 billion (2010) [8] [Note 4]
9. Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway 1.482 billion (2011) [9][Note 5]
10. Mexico City Metro 1.410 billion (2010) [10]
11. London Underground 1.107 billion (2010) [11][Note 6]

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_systems_by_annual_passenger_rides

It is safe to say that Beijing "metro" is the busiest in world since the current top three systems above are virtually at a stand still growth wise compare to Beijing's expanding metro system.

It's probably just a matter of months before Beijing and Shanghai will take the 1-2 positions...

Which is meaningless because the metro list there is very inaccurate. They have the red line of cleveland for example as a "metro" and yet miss the majority of Japan's rail systems which are by far more "metro like" than Cleveland's red line, BART etc. If you do it by urban rail, than Tokyo has 14.6 billion passengers and Osaka has 4.75 billion. The whole thing is complicated especially due to the massive amounts of through servicing.

Which is meaningless because the metro list there is very inaccurate. They have the red line of cleveland for example as a "metro" and yet miss the majority of Japan's rail systems which are by far more "metro like" than Cleveland's red line, BART etc. If you do it by urban rail, than Tokyo has 14.6 billion passengers and Osaka has 4.75 billion. The whole thing is complicated especially due to the massive amounts of through servicing.

Depends on what you are defining a list of. If it comes to infrastructure as a whole then all rails combined are a better meassurement. If all you want is a fluff list only looking at one set of technology, then the list is ok (apart from some cases like Clevelands red line. Though it shouldn't have included Chongqing's monorail either.

A rail list that includes all rail systems in cities like Tokyo/Osaka/Seoul/Chicago/Berlin's etc would be more interresting! But there are no list :/

It would however show that all in all China has a long way to go in city infrastructure!

What worries me is that the current arms race in the asia pasific region will hurt the spending on infrastructure. What history has told us in the past is that when infrastructure spending goes up, militar spending goes down, and vice versa. Right now (or soon to come) in the asia pacific, military spending goes up, and infrastructure spending goes down as a percentage of gdp. :/

The list is not looking at one set of technology. They defined the term "metro" (on list of metro systems) and yet they don't even follow their own criteria. They listed only subways for Japan, but include systems such as S-Bahn, BART etc. It's really a big mess and very inaccurate. Following their own criteria they should also add Paris RER and the majority of japanese rail systems. For example the Yamanote Line is not even on the list despite being a grade separated 100% urban loop in Tokyo's heart which transports 3.3 million people daily....but the Palma de Mallorca Metro with its whopping 1 line and 3,287 daily ridership is.

I doubt China will ever decrease spending on infrastructure for the foreseeable future. In fact from my reading I believe the budget for this year will increase spending on rail over last year (partly as a semi-stimulus due to the slowing gdp growth).

Beijing is also planning a suburban rail network. Wonder how it's going?

Beijing suburban rail S2 is running, supposedly not so successfully before they lowered the price to 2 RMB. S6 is to open in 2014 (was 2015) and S1 in 2015+. Heard no dates for S3-S5.