Beijing Unveils a New Standard for Design of Urban Rail Transit

Recently, the Standard for Design of Urban Rail Transit (“Standard” for short), a revised Beijing Municipal standard with UCG as the chief editor, has been released. It shall take effect from January 1, 2026.

By the end of 2024, the total operating length of Beijing's urban rail transit lines reached 879 km, with an average of approximately 10 million passengers per day, marking its transition from rapid development to a phase of high-quality development. Drawing on Beijing's rail transit development experience, this standard reflects the city's features as the capital, implements the "Four Services" principle, and comprehensively enhances human-centered service performance.

This revised Standard increases the maximum train speed from 100 km/h to 120 km/h, covering the design requirements for metro express. It also raises a slow-and-fast-train operation mode to lift efficiency, facilitate services along the lines, and boost operational flexibility.

To improve service quality, the Standard stipulates that moving walkways shall be installed in stations with transfer passageways exceeding 120 m to improve the long-distance transfer experience. Tourist service centers and luggage storage shall be reasonably set in tourist spots after considering adjacent land use and passenger access routes to improve hospitality. Additionally, public service facilities, including retail shops, self-service zones, and exhibition halls, can be allocated in certain zones of non-evacuation areas within station concourses and transfer passages.

It also raises safety measures against disasters such as fire, flood, wind, earthquake, snow, ice, and lightning stroke by establishing the principles of prevention-first, integrated rigid and flexible measures, and multi-level protection. Remedial waterproofing can be completed as follows: enhanced grouting for areas prone to imperfectly compacted concrete (e.g., arch crowns); improved waterproofing details and measures for leakage-prone areas; and setting specific requirements for the long-term waterproofing materials.

The Standard supports the use of smart, green, and prefabricated construction technologies in rail transit. It proposes specific design requirements for prefabricated stations and tracks. New advanced construction techniques are added to advance the mechanization in underground structure building. To reduce energy consumption, it introduces new energy-saving equipment and technology, including permanent magnet synchronous motors for trains. It mandates that energy efficiency for lighting sources, LED luminaires, ballasts, and LED drivers shall be Level 1 or Level 2. Equipment energy-saving control measures are also incorporated. For example, building lighting systems shall regulate energy use according to actual lighting needs.

The previous standard shall be repealed as of the effective date of the new one.