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Beijing to upgrade metro lines prior to Games
By Di Fang (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-08-31 01:44
Beijing's two oldest metro lines will be renovated ahead of the 2008 Olympic
Games.
Cars and tracks along the No 1 and No 2 lines in the capital city will be
upgraded by 2007 at a cost of 3.7 billion yuan (US$450 million).
The move is aimed at meeting the requirements of the huge surge in passengers
during the 29th Summer Olympic Games.
The two lines have been in operation for more than 30 years but have never
been renovated.
The city's oldest subway, the first-phase of the No 1 line from Pingguoyuan
to Fuxingmen, opened in 1969.
A detailed renovation plan has not been released yet, although an expert
appraisal was held earlier this month.
According to sources with the Beijing Metro Operation Company,lurking dangers
in safety will be eliminated after renovations are completed.
The overall technological level and safety standard will also be enhanced
then.
At the same time, the renovation is expected to reduce the number of problems
with vehicles and equipment.
Passengers are expected to feel more comfortable when the interior condition
within subway stations and carriages are improved.
Meanwhile, the working staff volume per kilometre of metro lines will be
controlled below 100 persons.
All equipment used for metro will run automatically after the equipment
upgrading.
In another development, the Beijing Metro Operation Company will examine all
of the four subway lines in operation to ensure safety and prevent fire.
The following aspects will be given priority: exits, passageways, stairs,
emergency lights, fire prevention symbols, automatic warning facilities and
various emergency equipment.
Systems will also be put in place to better deal with emergencies within the
metro lines.
Earlier this month a passenger pushed the alarm button after two people got
into a knife fight inside a carriage, but the red alarm light did not start
flashing for 20 minutes.
The operating company issued a new system to deal with emergencies that calls
for employees to actually take action.
According to the new method, attendants should determine the carriage number
where the emergency occurs, inform passengers immediately and report the
condition to relevant stations.
Attendants should go to the site of the emergency when the train arrives at
the station and, if necessary, call police.
Beijing now has four metro lines with a total length of 113.4 kilometres.
Another three lines and a branch line are now in construction and are
expected to open to traffic in 2007 and 2008.
It is expected that the total length of metro lines in Beijing will increase
to some 300 kilometres in 2008.
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