Three New Subway Lines to Commence Construction This Year

Construction will commence on five subway lines this month: Lines 3, 12, 17, the Fangshan line's northern extension, and the Airport Express' western extension. These new lines will have improved comfort, increased capacity, lifts, and bathrooms.

As of now, the Beijing subway system contains 18 subway lines, and covers 527 kilometers with 320 stations, including 47 transfer stations, Beijing News reports. On average the system transports 10 million people each day, as I'm sure those of us commuting by subway have noticed. The new lines will be built to accommodate increasing passenger flows, the official website reads.

Line 3: Line 3 will run from Dongcheng District to Chaoyang District, for a total of 22 kilometers, with 14 stations including some of interest to us, namely a stop at Gongti.

Line 12: Line 12, totalling 29.6 kilometers with 20 stations, will run from the northern part of the city and will also include transfer stations along Line 13. New areas made more accessible by this line are 798 with a station at Jiushan Qiao, and a stop at Sanyuan Qiao.

Line 17: Line 17 runs from the east of the city, from north to south. The line goes from Tongzhou District to Dongcheng District to Chaoyang District, and finally, to Changping District. Maximum speed on Line 17 will be 100km/hr and will stretch 49.7 kilometers with 20 stations, including a Sanlitun station.

Fangshan Line: The Fangshan Line extension will be 5.22 kilometers long, adding four stations to the north of the current line, crossing Lines 10 and 16.

Airport Express: The Airport Express extension runs west from Dongzhimen to Beixinqiao, for 1.9 kilometers, adding an easy transfer from Line 5. 

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