New subway train of Line 16 showed up in Beijing on August 22. With eight cars, the new subway train has a rated passenger capacity of 2,480 and can hold 3,456 passengers at maximum capacity. Compared with mainstream subway trains, the trains adopted by Line 16 enjoy more advantages in fire prevention, anti-pinch protection, and emergency devices. The north section of Line 16 will open to the public by the end of this year when residents living in northwest Beijing’s Shanhou of Haidian district will enjoy more convenience traveling to the downtown.

Shao Xinming, general manager of BJMTR, introduced that Line 16 is the first Beijing subway line that adopts 8A trains, namely trains composed of eight A type cars, each of which is 22 meters long and three meters wide. With a rated passenger capacity of 2,480, 8A train improves transport capacity by 76 percent and 33 percent than 6B and 6A trains respectively.

Compared to common subway trains, each car of an 8A train has two multifunctional areas. According to Lu Zexin, train operation manager of BJMTR, the multifunctional area that occupies the space of a row of seats can facilitate passengers with wheelchairs and when it is not occupied by a wheelchair the area can hold more standing passengers.

Light green and deep green are used to mark common seats and courtesy seats. Knurling coating is added to the handrails and the ring handrails feel softer and more comfortable.

To ensure passengers’ safety, non-metal facilities like seats, sidewalls, rings and glass of the new train were manufactured according to the strictest international standards. The fire resistance requirements are also strict. Once a fire breaks out, it can be retarded effectively to reduce harmful air. The floor structure cannot be damaged in 30 minutes when a fire occurs.

High standard anti-collision design is adopted by the new train so that no harm is done to the passenger zone when the train crashes at the speed of 25 km/h.

The anti-pinch doors of 8A train will open automatically when they meet obstacles with diameters not less than 10 millimeters.

In addition, each car has four unlocking devices outside, and in case of emergency they can increase rescue speed and ensure passenger safety. With eight emergency ventilators in each car, the ventilation effects are also improved.

Source: english.qianlong.com