Beijing Subway Limits Passenger Numbers… or maybe not

Submitted by danedwards on Tue, 11/09/2010 - 13:00

The state media has set a new bar when it comes to mixed messages with its coverage of plans to limit numbers on the Beijing Subway this winter. “Limitations on the number of Beijing subway passengers will become a regular measure in the future” said the Global Times yesterday, quoting a “Beijing Subway Company official.” Meanwhile this morning’s China Daily says, “There are no plans to limit the number of passengers entering stations” this winter, quoting “Beijing subway management.”

Yesterday’s Global Times stated that: “23 stations on nine lines will start controlling passenger flow, most of them on Line 1, the Batong Line and Line 13… Passenger controls will be put in place during weekdays from 7 to 9 am, and will include measures to regulate walking speed and passenger flow. Iron railings will be installed to slow down commuters in order to ease congestion… Some stations' employees will further utilize a tactic of dividing passengers into groups and then allowing them to enter the station one group at a time to prevent crushing crowds from turning into stampedes.”

In contrast, China Daily reported today that there are no plans to limit numbers on the subway, but quoted Beijing Subway Authority spokesman Jia Peng saying that there may be some “temporary measures that might be introduced on an ad hoc basis if passenger numbers are too large.”

Jia added, “All we will be doing is slowing down passengers' movements, not stopping them from entering stations.” Apparently the “main device that will be used will be a rope fence to control line-ups.” Sounds like a very well thought out strategy.

It’s a toss up as to which report is of more concern. Given the abuse and even assaults inspired by the nonsensical subway security checks, we shudder to think what will happen if they attempt to make passengers wait outside subway stations in the winter cold during peak hour, or even in the already packed entrance tunnels.

On the other hand, the peak hour crush on certain lines is becoming extreme – according to Global Times the network has been handling an average of 5 million people every day in 2010. It’s a little worrying that the authorities plan to respond to the likely increase in numbers over winter on an “ad hoc” basis.

As it stands the Beijing subway is a serious accident waiting to happen.

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TX_Chick's picture TX_Chick Submitted by Guest on Sat, 01/22/2011 - 08:39

I agree! People need to move a little faster in the subway. They also need to add more security checks. It's laughable how they try to herd people in a single file line through a lane that is wide enough for 2. I managed to not have to put my purse through the scanner one day because there were so many people I just got pushed through.

lucreziab's picture lucreziab Submitted by Guest on Sat, 11/13/2010 - 08:03

Teaching people how to behave properly in the subway station would be more effective. Getting the old bullhorns out and telling them to move faster is more like it. I'd rather take the bus these days than go into the subway station. Sometimes people think it's funny to walk very slowly and hold people up. And these are young people , too. Embarrassing!

monkeytree's picture monkeytree Submitted by Guest on Fri, 11/12/2010 - 17:39

You're not serious? Slow down the movement of passengers? Half the people in the subway already move like anemic tree sloths - and the other half are standing and gawking at the ceiling. What we need is a slow lane and a fast lane for those of us to whom subways are about speed and convenience. The pudding-footed pace of subway riders are about the number 1 reason why I try to avoid the subway here.

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