During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Beijing will enhance the development of its rail transit network. On April 8, the "Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of Beijing" was officially released. According to the outline, the rail transit network in Tongzhou District will be strengthened, involving multiple lines such as Line 22, Phase 1 of M101, and M102. Several projects from the second phase of Beijing's rail transit plan, including the CBD Line and the capacity enhancement project of Line 13, will be completed in the next five years. For existing lines, stations will be added to the Capital Airport Line and Line 15, while lines such as the Changping Line and Line 10 will undergo speed increases and operational optimizations. In the future, railways will play a greater role in cross-provincial commuting, and a suburban rail project for the Tongzhou-Wuqing-Langfang area is being planned.
A key focus is the reinforcement of Tongzhou's rail transit network, which includes Line 22, Phase 1 of M101, and M102. Line 22, Beijing's first cross-provincial subway, is set to open within the year, connecting Hongmiao to Pinggu. Stretching from Dongdaqiao in Chaoyang District to Pinggu New Town, it passes through Tongzhou District, Sanhe City in Hebei Province, and other key areas. The outline also emphasizes the high-quality development of the sub-center, aiming to launch Phase 1 of M101 and begin construction of M102. M101 Phase 1, currently under construction, spans 18.1 kilometers with 14 stations, while M102, still in the planning stage, will cover 29.1 kilometers with 23 stations to support the sub-center's expansion.
Additionally, unfinished projects from the second phase of the rail transit plan, such as the CBD Line and the Line 13 capacity enhancement project, will be completed. The Line 13 project has already split the line into 13A and 13B, with 13A operational since December 2025. The CBD Line, also known as Beijing Subway Line 28, will add 9 stations to improve service in the CBD area, connecting Dongdaqiao, Beijing East Railway Station, and Baiziwan.
To enhance mobility in plain new towns, the outline calls for accelerating the construction of express rail lines like the second phase of Line 19 (North Extension and Branch), aiming to create a 30-minute travel circle with the city center, sub-center, and surrounding regions. The second phase of Line 19, now in full construction, will extend 24.1 kilometers with 8 stations, improving connectivity in northern Beijing.
For existing lines, service quality will be upgraded through speed increases on the Changping Line and Line 15, and operational optimizations for Lines 10, 4, and 6. Transfer experiences at stations like Guomao and Songjiazhuang will also be improved. Recent measures include adding express trains on the Changping Line during peak hours to reduce congestion.
Station additions are planned for the Capital Airport Line and Line 15. The new Wangjing South Station on the Airport Line is under construction and will connect with Line 14, expanding service in the Wangjing and Jiuxianqiao areas. Line 15 will add a new station for the China International Exhibition Center, part of Beijing's key projects for 2026.
Railways will increasingly support cross-provincial commuting, with studies on using lines like Jingjiu, Jingha, and Jingguang for commuter services. The outline also proposes a suburban rail project for the Tongzhou-Wuqing-Langfang area, building on earlier plans from Tianjin. Additionally, the suburban rail Line Sub-center Line West Section and Northeast Ring Line will be completed, reducing travel time between Fangshan's Liangxiang and the city center to under 30 minutes.
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