Plans for the development of Beijing's rail transit network during the 15th Five-Year Plan period have been officially released. The outline proposes significant enhancements to the Tongzhou district rail network, involving multiple lines including Line 22, Phase 1 of the M101 Line, and the M102 Line. Additionally, projects carried over from the second phase of Beijing's rail transit plan, such as the CBD Line and the capacity enhancement project for Line 13, are scheduled for completion within the next five years.
For existing lines, stations will be added to the Capital Airport Line and Line 15, while services on the Changping Line and Line 10 will see speed increases and operational optimizations. Railways are also expected to play a larger role in cross-provincial commuting, with plans for a TongwuLang (Tongzhou-Wuqing-Langfang) regional commuter rail project being considered.
The enhancement of the Tongzhou rail network is a key part of Beijing's third-phase rail transit plan, which includes 11 projects. Line 22, set to open within the year, is notable as Beijing's first cross-provincial subway, connecting Chaoyang District to Pinggu District via Tongzhou and Hebei's Sanhe City. Meanwhile, Phase 1 of the M101 Line, currently under construction, will serve the entire Beijing sub-center, with a route length of approximately 18.1 kilometers entirely underground. The M102 Line, still in the planning stage, is also intended to serve the sub-center.
The plan also addresses lingering projects from the second-phase plan. The capacity enhancement project for Line 13 has already resulted in the opening of the 13A line. The remaining sections are still under construction. The CBD Line, also known as Beijing Subway Line 28, will enhance rail service density in the CBD area, connecting key locations like Dongdaqiao and the Beijing East Railway Station.
To improve connectivity for平原新城 (plain new towns), the plan calls for accelerating the construction of express rail lines like the second phase of Line 19, aiming to create a 30-minute交通圈 (transportation circle) with central urban areas, the sub-center, and surrounding regions. The second phase of Line 19, now in full-scale construction, will significantly improve connectivity between the city center and northern plain new towns.
Improvements to existing lines include adding stations to the Capital Airport Line and Line 15. The new Wangjing South Station on the Airport Line will offer a transfer to Line 14. Operational enhancements will focus on increasing speeds on lines like the Changping Line and optimizing service patterns on Lines 10, 4, and 6 to improve capacity and the passenger experience at major transfer stations like Guomao and Songjiazhuang.
The role of railways in regional commuting will be expanded. The plan proposes utilizing existing national rail lines like the京九 (Beijing-Kowloon),京哈 (Beijing-Harbin), and京广 (Beijing-Guangzhou) lines for commuter services with multiple boarding points. The commuter rail network will also be expanded, with projects like the western section of the Sub-Center Line and the Northeast Ring Line set to open, achieving high-capacity, high-frequency operations. The proposed TongwuLang commuter rail project aims to enhance connectivity between Tongzhou, Wuqing, and Langfang.
Comments