New Airport Line, Beijing Subway

New Airport Line, Beijing Subway
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	Beijing Subway
Status	Planned
Operation
Operator(s)	Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corp., Ltd
Technical
Line length	59.2km

New Airport Line of the Beijing Subway (Chinese: 北京地铁新机场线; pinyin: běijīng dìtiě xīnjīchǎng xiàn) is a rapid transit rail line under planning in Beijing connecting the Beijing Daxing International Airport with the downtown of Beijing.^[1]

History

In 2011, when transport infrastructure Beijing Daxing International Airport was being considered, the media reported the plan to connect the airport with 2 subway lines by "...extending the Daxing Line southwards and adding an entirely new line connecting the metropolitan area."^[2] In 2012, there were reports of the plan including an "airport express," Line 4 extension, and R4 line extension to connect with Beijing Daxing International Airport.^[3]

In 2013, the map released by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Planning contained the route of "New Airport Express (新机场快线)," which starts from Beijing South Railway Station, connecting at Caoqiao and Xingong, and extending southwards towards the Beijing Daxing International Airport.^[4]

In 2014, more details of the New Airport Line were reported.^[5]

• The length of the line is going to be 59.2 km with the construction beginning at the end of 2014.
• There are going to be 5 stations, though some experts state that more stations need to be added.

1. Mudanyuan 牡丹园 (Line 10)
2. Jinrongjie 金融街
3. Caoqiao 草桥
4. Nanyuan 南苑
5. New Airport 新机场

• At Mudanyuan and Caoqiao station, passengers can complete the boarding process 24 hours prior to flight departure time.
• The maximum speed is going to reach 120 km/hour, surpassing the Airport Express, with the maximum speed of 110 km/hour, as the fastest subway line in Beijing.
• The line is going to open with the Beijing Daxing International Airport in 2018.

Further reports in 2014 stated that the government was going to invest 19.7 billion RMB in the New Airport Line^[6] and a plan with Cigezhuang(磁各庄) station replacing Nanyuan station and 2 stations at the airport (Terminal 1 and 2).^[7]

The most recent updated reports as of early 2016 state that the New Airport Line is slated for completion by 2019. The line will feature only 3 stations, running from Caoqiao to the airport, stopping at Cigezhuang with a connection to Line S6 (which is now planned to connect to the existing Beijing Capital Airport), and operate at top speeds of 160 km/h. ^[8]

1. Caoqiao 草桥 (Line 10)
2. Cigezhuang 磁各庄 (Line S6)
3. New Airport 新机场

References

1. (Chinese)"新机场线城区起点为牡丹园站" Beijing Daily 2014.2.9
2. (Chinese)"第二机场将通两条地铁线 一条高速路将连接市区" Qianlong 2011.4.2
3. (Chinese)"北京新机场预计2014年全面开工　三条地铁线可直达" Caijing 2013.6.6
4. (Chinese)"北京地铁16号线车站设计方案展示" 2013.4.25
5. (Chinese)"新机场线城区起点为牡丹园站" Beijing Daily 2014.2.9
6. (Chinese) "北京新机场轨道交通线将开工 总投资197亿元" 中国市政工程网 2014-03-25
7. (Chinese) " 北京新机场地铁4年后与新机场同期开通" 中国新闻网 2014-11-26
8. (Chinese) " 新机场线" 2016-02-04