By hannover-web.com On October 21, officials from Beijing’s Major Project Office and the Beijing Investment and Construction Company announced that the right line section between Guangqumenwai Station and Yong’anli Station of the Beijing Subway Line 17 has been successfully completed. This achievement marks the full completion of the middle section of Line 17, specifically the stretch from Shilihe to Worker’s Stadium, laying a solid foundation for the entire line’s future operations.
The Beijing Subway Line 17 is a major urban transit route running from south to north, extending 49.7 kilometers and connecting key districts including Tongzhou, Chaoyang, Dongcheng, and Changping. The line, which features 21 stations, is being developed in three phases. The southern section from Jiahuaihu to Shilihe opened at the end of 2021, while the northern section from Worker’s Stadium to Future Science City North is set to commence operations by the end of 2023.
A representative from the Beijing Major Project Office shared insights on how Line 17 connects various residential areas, including Tiantongyuan, Wangjing West, Taiyanggong, and Panjiayuan. With the completion of the middle section, the project is expected to significantly alleviate traffic pressure in the area and enhance the flow of passengers on Metro Lines 5 and 10. Furthermore, it will stimulate the economic and social development of regions such as Future Science City, the CBD, and the Yizhuang New Town station area.
According to a spokesperson from Beijing Investment and Construction Company, the middle section of Line 17, which spans approximately 7.2 kilometers and includes four stations, will operate with A-type trains that have eight-car formations. The peak intervals will be three minutes, while non-peak intervals will range from six to eight minutes, with a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Once the middle section is fully operational, travel time from Jiahuaihu Station to Future Science City North Station will be just 66 minutes.
The completed section between Guangqumenwai and Yong’anli Stations is situated near the core area of Beijing’s CBD, posing complex construction challenges. The tunneling work involved navigating beneath several critical risk sources, with a mere 3.85 meters of vertical clearance between the existing Line 7 station structures and this new section. Additionally, the construction must safely pass 19 meters below the Jingha Railway and the Beijing Bureau’s vehicle depot, all while being in close proximity to Tonghui River and Yong’anli Bridge piles.
A representative from China Railway 14th Bureau explained that throughout the construction process, the team faced various challenges and risks. They optimized construction plans, closely monitored the parameters of the tunnel boring machine to minimize soil loss during digging, and implemented protection measures for the railway and reinforced the riverbed to mitigate ground subsidence. A robust monitoring framework was established, coordinating efforts among construction units, operating entities, and third-party monitoring agencies to ensure real-time tracking of subsidence risks, ultimately leading to the successful completion of the tunnel as planned.
