The Beijing Bus Group and the Beijing Metro Transport Construction Management Company Limited jointly obtained the Beijing modern tramcar Xijiao Line franchise on Nov 23, which means tramcars will return to Beijing after a fifty-year absence.
With a total length of 8.8 kilometers, serving purposes of leisure, tourism, and daily commuting, the tramcar Xijiao Line connects scenery spots such as the Summer Palace, the Fragrance Hill Park, and the Beijing Botanical Garden.
The line has a total of six stations, including Bagou, Summer Palace West, Yuquan Rural Park, Wan’an Public Cemetery, Beijing Botanical Garden, and Fragrance Hill Park, two of which are for transfer passengers.
“The operation mode of the tramcar will run between the transit rail and public ground transport, and a labeled line will be set up. The fare system will be the same as the subway,” an official said, adding that the investment amounted to 4.7billion yuan ($680 million).
Flush with the platform, the floor board of the tramcar is 30cm above the ground, so as to be easily accessible for the disabled.
The tramcar, which is 32 meters long and can carry 300 people per carriage, is expected to carry as many as 10, 000 people in a one-way trip at peak time per hour.