2023 Beijing Subway collision

2023 Beijing Subway collision
2023 Beijing Subway collision
	CP024, one of the trains involved, seen in 2021
Details
Date	14 December 2023 ; about 19:00 CST (UTC+08:00)
Location	Haidian, Beijing, China
Country	China
Line	Changping line
Operator	Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation Limited
Owner	Beijing Subway
Incident type	Collision
Statistics
Trains	2
Deaths	0
Injured	at least 515
Diagram
	Legend

Last updated November 06, 2024

On 14 December 2023, two trains on the Changping Line of the Beijing Subway in Beijing, China, collided in heavy snow, resulting in at least 515 injuries, but no fatalities. The tracks had become slippery, which caused the first train to automatically apply its brakes. A second train following behind was unable to stop in time, and crashed into the first.^[1]

Background

The two trains involved in the collision were CRRC Qingdao Sifang SFM13 trainsets, the first train being CP024 and the second CP032.^[2] The two trains entered service in 2015.^[2]

There was heavy snow the day before the collision, which caused the temporary closure of some train lines and schools,^[1] and above-ground trains were instructed to be operated manually and to maintain a larger gap between trains.^[3] On the day of the accident, Beijing set an orange alert for heavy snow and a yellow alert for icy roads,^[4] which is unusual for Beijing as it rarely experiences snowfall.^[5] The line on which the accident occurred transports approximately 400,000 people each weekday.^[4]

Collision

The collision occurred during rush hour, at about 19:00 CST on the Changping line in Beijing.^[4] Another train, SFM93 set CP059, experienced skidding due to snowfall at Life Science Park station, and the signal system experienced a downgrade to manual, non-CBTC mode. As a result, CP024 waited in front of a signal behind CP059.^[2] CP032, which was manually driven, departed Xi'erqi station and, at a speed of 92 kilometres per hour (57 mph), activated its emergency braking. Due to the increased braking distance from the snow, CP032 was unable to stop in time and collided with CP024.^[2]^[4] A statement by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport indicated that the CP032 was travelling downhill and could not brake effectively. Beijing Subway later said that CP024 had become separated at several carriages, and the front two cars of CP032 involved in the collision had detached.^[4]^[2]

Aftermath

The trains involved lost power, leading to passengers being left in the dark and smashing windows open for fresh air.^[3] By 23:00, all passengers were evacuated by emergency services.^[5] More than 500 people were brought to hospitals, 102 of whom suffered bone fractures.^[1]^[4] As of 06:00 the next day, 423 had been released,^[4] 25 were under observation, and 67 others remained hospitalised. There were no fatalities.^[5]

Immediately after the accident, the Xi'erqi station was closed to facilitate rescue operations. Rail services on the Changping Line between Xi'erqi and Zhuxinzhuang stations were also suspended due to the damaged trains blocking the track. On 15 December, the Changping line continued to operate with no service between Xi'erqi and Zhuxinzhuang stations, with replacement shuttle bus services provided for the closed section.^[3]^[6]

Following the collision, Beijing Subway offered an apology and said that it would pay for passengers' medical costs. Passengers who had already left the scene but experienced discomfort later were also welcomed to contact Beijing Subway.^[7]

The incident had also sparked criticism from netizens, with one Weibo user questioning the maintenance of the network and asked whether Beijing Subway was "taking the lives of hundreds of people too lightly".^[3]

On 16 December, full services on the Changping Line resumed.^[8] 12 cars (CP0241-CP0246 and CP0321-CP0326) were removed from service and have been stored at Dingsilu Yard since at least 5 February 2024.

Related Research Articles

The Beijing Subway is the rapid transit system of Beijing Municipality that consists of 27 lines including 22 rapid transit lines, two airport rail links, one maglev line and two light rail tram lines, and 490 stations. The rail network extends 836 km (519 mi) across 12 urban and suburban districts of Beijing and into one district of Langfang in neighboring Hebei province. In December 2023, the Beijing Subway became the world's longest metro system by route length, surpassing the Shanghai Metro. With 3.8484 billion trips delivered in 2018 and single-day ridership record of 13.7538 million set on July 12, 2019, the Beijing Subway was the world's busiest metro system in the years immediately prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Line 5 of the Beijing Subway is Beijing's only subway line with an entirely north-south route. Line 5's color is maroon. It entered into operation on October 7, 2007. It runs for 27.6 km (17.1 mi) in a near straight line through the city center from Tiantongyuanbei in Changping District to Songjiazhuang in Fengtai District. Though Line 4 and Line 8 also broadly follow north-south routes, Line 5 remains the only line to follow an almost entirely straight north-south course. Line 5 is also notable for including three stations in the densely populated northern suburb of Tiantongyuan, as well as providing convenient access to the Temple of Earth and Temple of Heaven. Since Line 5 connects with Line 1, Line 2 (twice), Line 6, Line 7, Line 10 (twice), Line 13, Line 14 and Line 15, and also links densely populated suburbs directly to the city center, it tends to experience very crowded conditions during rush hour and even very late into the evening. Over 1 million passengers use the line every weekday in 2019.

Line 13 of the Beijing Subway is a metro line that serves the northern suburbs of Beijing. On a map, Line 13's route is shaped like an inverted U that arcs north of the city and connects residential suburbs in Haidian, Changping, and Chaoyang Districts with the 2nd Ring Road and Line 2 at Xizhimen and Dongzhimen. With the exception of Dongzhimen and a tunnel between Xi'erqi and Longze, all of Line 13's tracks and stations are located on the surface or elevated above ground. The line is 40.85 km (25.38 mi) and 16 of its 17 stations are on the surface. Line 13's color is yellow. During rush hour, the section between Xizhimen and Wudaokou Stations was reported in 2013 to be the second most congested section in the Beijing subway network, operating at 130% capacity.

Qinghe railway station is a railway station in Beijing. The old station began its construction in 1905 and opened in 1906. The station closed on October 31, 2016, to be rebuilt into a new high-speed railway station on the Beijing-Baotou Passenger-Dedicated Line opened on December 30, 2019.

Line 9 of the Beijing Subway is a rapid transit line in western Beijing. The line runs 16.5 km (10.3 mi) from the National Library in Haidian District to Guogongzhuang in Fengtai District with 13 stations. All stations are fully underground. Line 9's color is chartreuse.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changping line</span> Rapid transit line in Beijing

The Changping Line of the Beijing Subway is a rapid transit line in northern Beijing. It is 43.2 km (26.8 mi) in length with 20 stations. Changping line's color is pink.

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Xi'erqi station is an interchange train station between Line 13 and the Changping Line on the Beijing Subway. The station has relocated to a new location several hundreds meters north on December 25, 2010 to ease transfer between the two lines when the new Changping Line opened, and the original station was then defunct, but was not demolished until August 2020. The new building a light membrane white covering was designed by Atelier Li Xinggang. The station is extremely congested with 13,000 people per hour transferring between the station's two lines during peak periods. A viral video filmed at this station showing rush hour crowds attempting to board the overcrowded trains was posted on YouTube in 2013.

Xitucheng station is an interchange station on Line 10 and Changping line of the Beijing Subway.

Line 17 of the Beijing Subway is a rapid transit line that is partially in operation in Beijing. The line is fully underground and has a total length of 49.7 km (30.9 mi). It is scheduled to open in parts between 2021 and 2024. The line is operated by Beijing MTR Corporation Limited. Line 17's color is turquoise.

Liudao Kou station is an interchange station on Line 15 and Changping line of the Beijing Subway. The station for Line 15 was opened on December 28, 2014. The station for Changping line opened on February 4, 2023.

Changping Xishankou station is a station on the Changping Line of the Beijing Subway. It was opened on 26 December 2015. It is the current northern terminus of the line as well as the northernmost station in the entire Beijing Subway.

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Zhufangbei station is a subway station under construction on the Changping line of the Beijing Subway. As this is an infill station, it will not open with the rest of the line in its initial extension phase. Instead, it is planned to open at the end of September 2024.

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Xuezhiyuan station is a subway station on the Changping line of the Beijing Subway. It opened on February 4, 2023.

Jimenqiao station is an interchange station under construction on Line 12 and Changping line of the Beijing Subway. The station is expected to open at the end of December 2024, and will be the southern terminus of Changping line.

References

1 2 3 "Over 500 people injured in Beijing train collision amid heavy snow". 1 News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
1 2 3 4 5 "北京地铁事故公布初步原因：雪天导致列车追尾共515人送医院检查". cnBeta.COM (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
1 2 3 4 "Beijing subway crash leaves 102 with broken bones". 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McCarthy, Simone (15 December 2023). "Beijing metro train collision sends hundreds to hospital". CNN. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
1 2 3 "515 People Injured in Train Collision in Beijing". TIME. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
↑ Zhang, Phoebe (15 December 2023). "Icy track to blame for Beijing commuter train failure, more than 100 injured". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
↑ "北京地铁昌平线雪夜发生追尾事故致102人骨折". Lianhe Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
↑ "北京地铁昌平线16日起全线恢复正常运营". 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 "Over 500 people injured in Beijing train collision amid heavy snow". 1 News. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[:4-2] 1 2 3 4 5 "北京地铁事故公布初步原因：雪天导致列车追尾共515人送医院检查". cnBeta.COM (in Chinese (China)). Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[:3-3] 1 2 3 4 "Beijing subway crash leaves 102 with broken bones". 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[:1-4] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McCarthy, Simone (15 December 2023). "Beijing metro train collision sends hundreds to hospital". CNN. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[:2-5] 1 2 3 "515 People Injured in Train Collision in Beijing". TIME. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[6] Zhang, Phoebe (15 December 2023). "Icy track to blame for Beijing commuter train failure, more than 100 injured". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[7] "北京地铁昌平线雪夜发生追尾事故致102人骨折". Lianhe Zaobao (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[8] "北京地铁昌平线16日起全线恢复正常运营". 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.

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