Beijing Subway Line 7 is the newest line in the Beijing Subway network. It opened last December 2014 along with extensions to existing lines, bringing the total number of subway lines to 18, from the previous of 17. This new subway line follows the growing pattern of design cues and hardware that the subway system has seen since the introduction of Line 6 that opened in December 2012.
First and foremost, the new line serves as an expansion into the growing districts of Fengtai and Tongzhou in the south of Beijing. Line 7 connects Beijing West Railway Station to the terminal in Tongzhou District, close to Yizhuang Line. At present, there are 19 stations along the line that are open, with two currently not in operation (Shuangjing Station and Fatou Station).
When you enter the stations, you will instantly notice that the subway operates at a much lower depth than most subways already in use. You will find it to be very similar to Subway Line 6, needing more time to get to the subway platforms. However, there are multiple escalators over the platform that will move people in and out of the station efficiently. The security in the stations of Line 7 certainly have a focus on greater security. With larger corridors, the security lines are more spacious and can handle twice as many security checks than most under current operation. Some stations, closer to Beijing West Railway Station have large x-ray scanners that are similar to those in operation at airports and train stations. In addition to these x-ray scanners for bags and other belongings, passengers will pass through a body scanner and may be scanned with a handheld scanner by workers.
The stations themselves still carry that brand-new look and feel. It won’t be for long until it becomes used by more commuters. Remember the movie Field of Dreams starring Kevin Costner? “If you build it, he will come.” That’s exactly how Line 6 was when it had opened and today it’s broken in just fine. Many of the stations have great designs that take cues from Beijing’s history and culture. You’ll see this evident in the large pillars and decorations on the walls in the stations. Remember, it all started with Line 6 and carries on with nearly every new subway extension or line that has opened since.
Line 7’s subway train cars sure are a thing of beauty. For one, they improve on both design and function in every new iteration. Best of all are the extra-long platforms with 8-carriage trains that are 30% greater in capacity than most existing train cars. It really delivers, offering vast capacity that is desperately needed for this ever-growing population. As of right now, Line 7 is still very new. Even on the weekend, capacity is still below-average, meaning seating is nearly always available. The new line is also extremely fast, taking you from one end to the other in around 40 minutes.
Noticeable stops along the route include: Beijing West Railway Station, Maliandao Tea Street, Shuangjing (yet to be open), Happy Valley Amusement Park and more. Experience it for yourself before it becomes too popular!
