UCD Boosts the Network Upgrading of Metro Lines in Beijing and Jinan 

On December 27, UCD, the top-ranked general and overall design contractor in China’s urban rail transit sector in terms of market share and integrated strength, supports the concentrated operation of several new metro lines in Beijing and Jinan, playing its role in advancing urban rail transit in the two cities mentioned above.

Beijing: The Opening of Three New Metro Lines Facilitates the Upgrading of Urban Rail Transit

On December 27, the three new metro lines in Beijing, including the central section of Line 17, Line 18, and the southern extension of Line 6, are opened simultaneously, supported by UCD in the entire industrial chain covering survey, design and construction. This demonstrates how UCD utilizes its integrated service capacities to support the growth of urban rail transit in Beijing.

UCD, together with its subsidiaries, undertook the general design and corresponding survey tasks for the newly opened three lines, and completed the construction of the southern extension of Line 6. Following their commissioning, Beijing’s rail transit network now seamlessly covers all lines from 1 to 19, with a total operating length of 909 kilometers, marking a new step in the capital’s metro network expansion, service efficiency, and integrated operational capacity.

Beijing Subway Line 17, which has a total length of 49.97 kilometers, acts as a high-volume rail transit trunk line connecting northern and southern Beijing. It links core zones of Tongzhou, Chaoyang, Dongcheng, and Changping districts,  running between Jiahuihu in the south and Future Science City North in the north. The newly launched central segment (Shilihe-Workers’ Stadium) measures 8.2 kilometers in length. Spanning 19.8 kilometers, Beijing Subway Line 18 functions as a key east-west transit artery in northern Beijing. Its newly opened section (Malianwa-Tiantongyuan East) will create an efficient commuter route between Zhongguancun Software Park (Haidian District) and Huilongguan & Tiantongyuan residential communities (Changping District). The newly opened Beijing Subway Line 6’s southern extension covers one station (Luyang) and one running section, extending the line by 2 kilometers. Functioning as an expansion of the east-west trunk route in central Beijing, it reinforces Line 6’s function as a main link between Tongzhou District and downtown Beijing, and perfects transport infrastructure around Beijing’s sub-city center, posing a significant role in relocating non-capital functions and advancing green transportation.

Jinan: The Opening of Three New Metro Lines Advances to Its Networked Metro Operation

December 27 witnesses the simultaneous opening of Jinan Metro Line 6’s eastern section, undertaken by UCD as survey and design general contractor, as well as Line 4 and Line 8, in which UCD participated in construction. This accomplishment signifies that Jinan rail transit has formally stepped into a new phase of networked operation. Up to now, UCD has been involved in the design of eight Jinan metro lines, including being the general designer for four, and has made substantial contributions to this city’s rail transit progress.

Jinan Metro Line 6 is a 39-kilometer east-west transit artery with 32 underground stations. The initial eastern section, now in operation, runs 19.5 kilometers from Shandong University to Liangwang, serving 17 stations. It connects important functional areas, including Shandong University, the International Financial City, the High-Tech Industrial Park, the  Jinan Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and Jinan East Railway Station, creating an efficient east-west passenger corridor through the city’s central economic region. The line directly serves the city’s economic and developmental heartland, forming a fast-track corridor for east-west passenger flow.

Under the construction of Jinan Metro Line 4, UCD was responsible for the design of two stations--Bayi Lijiaoqiao and Olympic Sports Center. As a transfer hub for Line 4 and future lines, Bayi Lijiaoqiao Station serves as the deepest open excavation station in Jinan. Olympic Sports Center Station, connecting Lines 3 and 4, stands for Jinan’s first underground excavated station, which was built using UCD’s patented transverse tunneling-cover method. In terms of the Jinan Metro Line 8 project, UCD undertook the interior fit-out design across the whole line. Blending a simple, rustic industrial style with regional cultural features, UCD teams created a distinctive “Youth Corridor”.