Maglev trains to be used on Beijing's S1 Line

Low- to medium-speed maglev trains, designed to travel no faster than 100 kilometers per hour, will be used in Beijing for the first time. Relevant authorities are selecting an appropriate route and have preliminarily selected the Datai Line (S1 Line) for a trial run. At present, tests are still ongoing.

Maglev rail stations will hopefully be built in communities

According to news from Beijing Transportation and Technology Innovation Conference held on July 15, officials from Beijing transport authorities said that low to medium-speed maglev trains designed to travel no faster than 100 kilometers per hour will be used in Beijing for the first time. Compared with other trains, the maglev trains have been developed by independent innovation, feature low noise, a small turning radius, only one-third of that of a light rail train, and a climbing capacity double that of a light rail train. Beijing is currently selecting an appropriate route for a trial run.

Reporters learned that the authorities have preliminarily selected the Datai Line (S1 Line), which is still in the planning stage, as a possible test route for the trains. The selected route is currently undergoing further testing. Hopefully, maglev rail stations will be built inside communities, which will not only be convenient for residents but will also save on demolition costs.

The S1 Line, which is still in the planning stage, will be constructed on the existing railway, and speeds will be kept between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour for safety reasons. Such a speed is suitable for urban areas.

Parking spots can be booked through mobile phones

In addition, as technological advancement in transportation progresses, real-time traffic monitoring will be implemented on 90 percent of all roads in urban areas of Beijing by 2015, in accordance with the goals set by the July 15 conference. By then, a comprehensive traffic information service system will have been constructed in Beijing, which will be based on multiple platforms like websites, hotlines, FM radio, dynamic onboard navigation systems and SMS. The system could offer online services like route mapping and parking lot indicators, and allow residents to book parking spots through the Internet or mobile phones. If any unexpected changes happen in the parking lot while the driver is en-route, they will get information about it via SMS.

S1 Line

S stands for “suburb”. The S1 Line, with a total length of 27 kilometers, will start from Dinghuiqiaobeiwu Road station on the West Fourth Ring Road where it will connect with Subway Line 6, pass through Tiancun Village and Shijingshan District, and finally end in Mengcheng Town, Mentougou District. Its construction has not begun yet.

Translated by LOTO