Beijing’s recently opened metro lines offer new experiences in urban transit
Line 19 is different to other recently opened lines. It travels up to 120 km/h running north-to-south and features a fully automated propulsion system. To maintain its speed advantage there are fewer stations but it does connect the International Street with Caoqiao Metro station where the fast express train to Beijing Daxing International Airport departs every eight minutes. I travelled smoothly, quickly on Line 19 between Niujie and Jishuitan. During that journey I reflected back to my earlier days exploring the Beijing metro and the changes that have occurred over the years. Interestingly, Jishuitan is a transfer station between lines 19 and 2, the Loop Line. Going between its new and early sections really helped emphasize the changes today with so much in providing a leading 21st century mode of urban rapid transit.
The newly opened metro lines offer more and convenient travel options for Beijing, but the lines are worthy of visiting even to see the amazing stations that are adding to the overall Beijing Metro experience.
