This has to be a question that must be asked.
Just today, your Beijingologist read something that just scared the heck out of him: there was a guy who wanted to get on a Line 4 train at Xizhimen. The train, of course, was full.
The guy forced his way in as the doors were just about to close.
Wait. That's not the end of the story.
The platform screen doors started closing on the guy. At the same time, the train doors started closing as well. For a split second, THIS GUY WAS TRAPPED BETWEEN THE PLATFORM SCREEN DOORS AND THE TRAIN DOORS.
(AND THE REASON WHY YOU'RE READING THIS IN ALL CAPS IN RED IS THAT THIS IS THE CLOSEST PLACE YOU'LL GET IN THE SUBWAY SYSTEM TO IMMEDIATE DEATH.)
THE BEIJING SUBWAY IS POWERED ON WHAT'S CALLED "THIRD RAIL". BASICALLY, IF THE TRAIN WAS TO LEAVE THE STATION, THIS GUY (SQUASHED) WOULD FALL ON THE THIRD RAIL AND IMMEDIATELY BE ELECTROCUTED.
(Thankfully, this guy managed to force himself onto the train — so that he was able to live another day...)
And you wonder why this was such a big deal.
(By the way, there was a similar incident in Shanghai in 2007. The force of the departing train, not the third rail (as there's none in Shanghai) KILLED the guy.)
Just two days ago, a huge free-for-all broke out at Tiantongyuan South Subway Station. Of course, the fact that this station had just one exit made it about a thousand times worse. People were prevented from going into the station — just to make sure Line 5 trains weren't jam-packed further down the line. Even the cops couldn't stop the commotion as riders overwhelmed security and banged through the faregates.
And you wonder why this happened.
Thing is this: in Beijing, we have some super-low Subway prices. For 2 yuan, you're able to go on any line except for the Airport Express. That's great news for commuters — and it's precisely it's that — that the whole system's going to hell. For 2 yuan, anyone will take the Subway.
(We've seen worse than hell: Guangzhou's Metro, during that short week that it was totally free, saw the worst crowds ever. Every last Metro stop was jam-packed with people.)
The idea here is to take people off the streets and onto the Subways. Unfortunately, here's where the plan creates more harm than good. All this overground congestion's supposedly shoved underground thanks to super-cheap fares. But wait: the same crowds that used to pile up on our streets are suddenly transferred beneath surface level. And because it's so cheap, people use the whole system — just short of the total length of the New York Subway.
The only way out for Beijing, then, is to raise Subway prices. That can only happen when new lines are built (since present-day lines are full of folks). If that happens, it'll have to happen step-by-step. The maximum fare must be raised, yuan by yuan, so that the 2 yuan flat fare becomes 3 yuan for longer trips and 2 yuan for short trips. Eventually, the maximum fare has to reach about 5 yuan, lest it be allowed to go up without end and cause hell for the city.
Calls are mounting in city Subway forums for prices to go higher. It looks like the idea of all-you-can-ride 2 yuan Subway fares may be a distant memory in the not-too-distant future...
Was this comment useful? Yes(0)
All of Tiantongyuan is a disaster so it is no wonder that the lone line 5 that goes through there is always going to be jam-packed long before it even reaches fifth Ring road. going south. I agree with the other comment. More trains at shorter intervals maybe a small increase in the fare. Stop the subway CEO's from having other subway lines cross Line 5 or there will be more trouble. Or, what about an East-West northern subwayline: Changping Line..to.. Line 8--to Line 5--to--the Airport eventually. What do you think? Is Xidandave smart or what?
Was this comment useful? Yes(0)
The people riding the subways are not doing it because it's cheap; they are going places, doing things, shopping, visiting, etc. I don't think these people are riding the subways for something to do. People want to be crammed in carriages too hot and sticky even for sardines? The plain fact is that the subway is inadequate for the size of the city and the job it has to deliver. Line 1 is now totally overburdened because of the addition of the new lines. Line 1 is the primary east - west line, connecting most of the other feeder lines. But, before there was only one feeder and now there are many. Also, the trains run infrequently, this is a rolling stock issue, not enough cars as I know. In NYC, at 8am, the trains run every few minutes. In Beijing the trains run more than 5 mins apart. They don't have enough coaches. Typically lack of planning and foresight, build the system, but don't order the carriages or train people to run it.... left and right hand coordination is often challenging in China or Beijing. :)
Was this comment useful? Yes(0)
Other Posts by This Writer
Beijing Subway Expansion: What's Set to Open This Month
By davidfeng
The Beijing Subway is expanding its network with three new lines (or parts of lines) ...Songjiazhuang Station: Works Will Seal Exit B
By davidfeng
Yep, there is life south of Tian'anmen Square and Qianmen. Songjiazhuang. Most know it only ...Relief For Line 1: Line 6 Update
By davidfeng
The city's Subway Line 6 will be a godsend on the rails when it opens ...Beijing's Maddening Bus Stop Names
By davidfeng
Sometimes these names can be a little too much... Let's take a look at these ...Going To Yonghegong On 3 Feb? Don't Do The Subway...
By davidfeng
...as it's precisely on the first day of the Chinese New Year (3 February 2011) ...Are We Doomed To See 100 Days Without Snow?
By davidfeng
In the autumn of 2009, it was big — yep, as in the snow. It ...Beijing's Incredible Subway Expansion Timetable
By davidfeng
Please get ready for your arrival. Shanghai Metro, be very scared. • Opening late 2011: ...17,600 More Cars For The Capital
By davidfeng
And your Beijingologist's back: and certainly not looking forward to 17,600 more cars to come ...Railway Hub Beijing: SEVEN Big Train Stations
By davidfeng
Of course. Beijing is the nation's capital: there's no reason why we shouldn't be a ...One Train Ticket Per Person? Not Quite
By davidfeng
If you're thinking of running away from the railway station with a hundred tickets in ...What On Earth Is Up With Line 5?
By davidfeng
It looks like Subway Line 5 is bogging all of Beijing down. (That cartoon drawn ...Beijing's Unbelievable New Fengtai Railway Station
By davidfeng
Look at the pic. It looks like an elevated "final resting place" done in the ...The Newest Way to Make Subway Money: Sell Seats?
By davidfeng
"It's close to the Chunyun (Spring Festival Rush), so I'm offering this seat to anyone ...Bumper Sticker Culture in the Jing
By davidfeng
Our fellow capital-lists on the go (with their cars, now an increasingly rare commodity thanks ...Line 15 to Central Shunyi? How About Two Months Early?
By davidfeng
Line 15's headed to central Shunyi! The Subway line that passes through Wangjing, Cuigezhuang (Western ...The Olympic Green: Beijing's Tourist Trap?
By davidfeng
There are two places in the Jing that are tourist trips: Tian'anmen and the Olympic ...Beijing's Subway Line 6: Longest Ever? 52 km?
By davidfeng
The present-day semi-amalgamation of Line 4 and the still0new Daxing Line already amounts up to ...Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Rail Opens Mid-June 2011
By davidfeng
Die, planes, die! An Airbus A380 in all-economy class seats "just" 900; the Beijing-Shanghai HSR ...All On Board! Beijing's Subway Mileage Explodes to 336 km
By davidfeng
Once upon a time, the Subway, well out of reach of most nosy foreigners in ...Subway 2010: Songjiazhuang Interchange (Line 5 / Yizhuang Line)
By davidfeng
The neatest-and-weirdest interchange yet is what you will find at the Songjiazhuang interchange. Passengers getting ...
Well, people take the subway because they have to go somewhere, not for fun because it's cheap. Making it more expensive just makes people take taxi or drive, which is even worse. Solution is more subway lines and more trains.