Beijing Subway Line 17 Set to Open Soon

Good news for those of us who take the subway to get around town: the northern stretch of Line 17 will be ready to roll out by the end of this year, says Beijing Daily. The soon to open line covers around 25 kilometers and links major residential zones like Tiantongyuan and Taiyang Palace, as well as commercial hubs such as Sanlitun. This will mean that a journey from Gongti to Future Science City North Station will only take 31 swift minutes.

The northern section of Line 17 consists of ten stations, starting from Future Science City North Station in the north and concluding at Workers' Stadium Station in the south. Taiyangong Station serves as the interchange point between Line 17 and Line 10. Once Subway Line 17 is operational, it signifies that the long-anticipated Workers' Stadium Station will finally open its doors for the very first time.

Beijing Daily also mentions that the Taiyanggong Station on the northern section of Line 17 will feature double-sided door escalators, a boon for wheelchair users and those with heavy luggage. Furthermore, the northern stretch of Line 17 impresses with its orange and white design, and each station entrance and exit will flaunt considerably larger lettering. This will help passengers identify information from afar and plan their routes in advance. It also enhances accessibility for the visually impaired and the elderly through clear and prominent signage.

In the wake of the inauguration of the northern and southern parts of Line 17, the remaining duo of Line 16 stations -- Hongtaizhuang Station and Wanpingcheng Station -- are also set to open by year's end. Additionally, the Suzhou Street Station on Line 16 will be operational and facilitate interchange with Line 10.

Line 16, a crucial north-south connector in Beijing's transit network, commences at Bei'an River in the north and terminates at Wanping City in the south, spanning roughly 50 kilometers. Post-completion, it's anticipated to ferry around 400,000 passengers daily, with a travel time of just 83 minutes from Bei'an River Station to Wanpingcheng Station.

The inauguration of Line 16 is expected to better integrate pivotal urban areas such as Zhongguancun West District, Sanlihe Central District, Fengtai Railway Station, and Fengtai Science and Technology Park, thereby fostering development across the city's northern and southern regions, the Beijing Daily report concludes.

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