Jam-Packed Line 10 Starts Skipping Stations

Line 10's recent extension made it the longest line on Beijing's subway, but as riders are finding out: With great length comes great crowds of people. Recent signaling issues are only adding to those problems. As a result, express services are being implemented to ease underground congestion.

Yesterday, a broken signal at Changchun Qiao station had a ripple effect on the whole of Line 10 that extended as far as Shuangjing where commuters were left out in the cold as crowds were backed up to the entrance of the station. While the suspension of all trains is an uncommon occurrence, the crush of people is becoming a regular thing, earning the line the nickname "baopeng" 爆棚, or “standing room only.”

Along the whole length of track, Jinsong is the busiest station on the subway, according to the operating department. That one spot handles around 20,000 passengers every day during the morning rush.

To alleviate some of that congestion, express trains are being implemented. Before you start dreaming of hopping on at Shuangjing and rocketing over to Haidian with a minimum of stops, hold on – the reality is far more underwhelming. Between 8-9am, every fourth train leaving from Shoujingmao will bypass Chengshousi, Fenzhongsi, Shilihe and Panjiayuan stations.

So unless your commute is concentrated on the southeast corner of Line 10, the express service won't make your trip much faster.

Photo: Weibo.com