The opening of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway took place in December, 2019. The railway is a milestone in China's railway development because it has used the latest technologies in railway building.
The railway is 174 kilometers long, with 10 stations. The stations are managed by one control center, which is described by China Railway Beijing Group－also known as CR Beijing－as an "intelligent brain". The center collects and shares the stations' real-time information. "With the information, the workers in the center can control the stations' lighting and temperature, monitor (监测) trains' operation and deal with emergencies (紧急情况)," said Zhu Dianping, from CR Beijing.
Zhu said some trains on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou line are "smart" as they provide 5G signals and wireless charging (无线充电) for passengers, as well as intelligent lighting. These trains can start and stop, open and close doors, and deal with emergencies themselves.
All the ten stations provide e-ticket services. Travelers who have bought tickets online can use their ID cards instead of waiting in line for paper tickets.
At Qinghe Railway Station in Beijing, China's first visual remote ticket vending machine (远程可视售票机) has been installed (安装) to help passengers who are not able to afford tickets online. Passengers keep in touch with the conductor through the machine and buy tickets according to video instructions.
In addition, the Badaling Great Wall Station, the deepest underground railway station in China, is another great example of the country's achievements in railway building.
