Beijing Subway Fares May Double: Reports

Beijing Subway fares are still set to rise, we still don't know when, we still don't know by how much, but it looks like the increase will be at least double compared to current pricing.

Two plans, both distance-based instead of the current flat rate, have been submitted to the Beijing Municipal Government for consideration. One would keep the initial fare at RMB 2, with an average fare of RMB 4.4. The other would have an initial fare of RMB 3, with an average of RMB 4.3.

One report indicated that "plans" will be available for frequent riders offering discounts of 20-50 percent, although neither those plans nor the pricing structure based on distance was not illuminated.

So, we know we'll be paying more, we just don't know when or how much. 

The fare rise comes in response to huge losses by the transport system, over RMB 3 billion in 2013.

More subway lines and line extensions are due by the end of 2014, including a new eastern spur of Line 6 that will take the east-west conduit almost as far as the bedroom community of Yanjiao in Hebei province.

Photo: Wikimedia

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Some great graphics on the subway price increases over at Global Times:

 

 

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

this just in:
Subway users see 5 yuan as maximum fare
"About 70 percent of Beijing commuters would not use the subway if the ticket price exceeds 5 yuan (80 cents), according to a survey conducted by Beijing research company Horizon Research and Horizonkey.

The survey shows that 71.4 percent of commuters choose to take the subway if the price is lower than 5 yuan, but that figure drops dramatically to 30.2 percent if the price exceeds 5 yuan.

It also shows that 51.5 percent of commuters in Beijing take the subway every day, and 91.9 percent of Beijing residents take the subway at least once a week."

I got a great idea: Raise the ticket price to 6 yuan.

 

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20