Yanfang line

Construction of the Yanfang Line was scheduled to commence in September 2011 and be completed by 2013.[3] On October 17, 2011, the Ministry of Environmental Protection declined to approve plans for the line citing lack of approval for the project from the National Development and Reform Commission and uncertain environmental impact of the line on the South–North Water Transfer Project which has a channel and reservoir in Fangshan District.[4][5] As a result, the onset of construction was delayed to at least the end of 2013.[5]

Construction on Yanfang Line was started in April 2014. The line was scheduled to open in 2017.[6] The line opened on December 30, 2017.

Map of Yanfang Line.

The line is projected to be Y-shaped, with the main line starting at Yanshan and the branch line starting at Zhoukoudian Town. The two will merge at Raolefu before terminating at Yancundong.[3] Currently only the main line is operational, while the branch line is under planning.

The line is the first in Beijing to be capable of unattended train operations, and the first in China to exclusively use subsystems developed by domestic manufacturers.[8]

The 6.1 km (3.8 mi) branch line of Yanfang line, from Raolefu station to Zhoukoudian Town station is under planning. Due to low passenger flow, the branch line will not be built in the short-term planning.[9] In addition, Beijing Subway is evaluating the possibile merge with the Fangshan line.