On January 18, Beijing Subway Fangshan Line and Line 9, equipped with CASCO's signaling system, started cross-line operation. Cross-line trains can directly transfer between the two lines during peak hours on weekdays. As another successful case after the cross-line operation between Beijing Subway Batong Line and Line 1 with CASCO’s contribution, it will definitely conducive to promoting the optimization and improvement of Beijing Subway network.

Located in the southwest of Beijing, the Fangshan Line runs through Fangshan District and Fengtai District, and intersects with Line 9, the western longitudinal trunk of the city, at Guogongzhuang Station. The two lines together form a passenger flow corridor between Fangshan New Town and downtown Beijing. The Fangshan Line features obvious tidal passenger flow, and the transfer station Guogongzhuang also bears huge traffic pressure during the morning and evening peak periods.

Station maps of Fangshan Line & Line 9

Cross-line operation, as an important element included in the Transportation Development and Construction Plan of Beijing during the 14th Five-Year Plan" Period, pointed out a solution to the above problem for Fangshan Line and Line 9. The completion of the cross-line operation between the two lines will bring a comprehensive upgraded experience to passengers and operators:

Convenient travel without transfer

Passengers can choose the appropriate train according to their travel destinations and do not need to transfer at Guogongzhuang Station on their way to and from the downtown, effectively saving travel time.

Energy-saving and consumption-reducing

The depot of the Fangshan Line is located at the starting point of the line, and the trains often return empty after the morning and evening peak hours. After cross-line operation is realized, the trains of the Fangshan Line can be parked at the Guogongzhuang depot of Line 9, which greatly reduces the mileage of empty trains.

More flexible operation organization

After the merger of the signaling systems of the two lines, the trains of the Fangshan Line can not only run on Line 9, but also enter its depot for parking, which enables more flexible and accurate operation scheduling to adapt to the peak hour passenger flow.

Unlike the “two-as-one" cross-line operation mode of the Baitong Line and Line 1, the Fangshan Line and Line 9 have different line speed limits and maximum vehicle speeds, which only allow the trains of the Fangshan Line to run on Line 9. For this reason, CASCO continued to maintain two sets of dispatching systems in the dispatching console with separate control area partitions, and customized the signaling system, adding new functions and new software protection mechanisms to avoid malfunctions caused by human misoperation and reduce the workload and work pressure of dispatchers.

Control center of Fangshan Line & Line 9

The cross-line operation transformation is a large project involving multiple disciplines. As the general contractor of this project, CASCO is responsible for the integration and construction of various systems such as signaling, train, platform door, communication, integrated monitoring, and PIS. The critical period of the construction was just before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and the implementation process was accompanied by several rounds of epidemics. Through the scientific design of the transformation plan and the precise division of the on-site commissioning work, CASCO coordinated various disciplines to complete the tasks of equipment installation, single system commissioning, integrated system commissioning, multi-train stress testing one after another to realize non-sensible transformation.

Signaling equipment commissioning

As the cross-line operation between Fangshan Line and Line 9 is realized, it is now more convenient for the citizens along the line to travel and the functions of the Beijing subway network have also been further improved. In the future, CASCO will continue to carry out technological innovation to empower the development of the rail transit industry, conduct deeper investigation into customer needs, and develop customized signaling system solutions to promote the improvement of urban rail transit transportation efficiency and further optimize passenger travel experience.