2023 Beijing Subway collision
{{Short description|Rail accident in China}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox public transit accident
| name=2023 Beijing Subway collision
| image=CP024 entering Xi'erqi (20211116135419).jpg
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| caption=CP024, one of the trains involved, seen in 2021
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| date=14 December 2023
| time=about 19:00 CST (UTC+08:00)
| location=Haidian, Beijing, China
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| country=China
| line=Changping line
| operator=Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation Limited
| owner=Beijing Subway
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| type=Collision
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| trains=2
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| deaths=0
| injuries=at least 515
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uhKBHFxe!~HUBaq\uhKBHFa!~HUBeq\~~ ~~{{rint|Beijing|8}} {{stl|BJS|Zhuxinzhuang}}
uexhSTR\uhtSTRa\
uexhBHF!~lZOLL\utLSTR2\utSTRc3~~ ~~{{stl|BJS|Life Science Park}}~~service suspended after accident
uexhSTRe\utSTRc1\utLSTR+4
uexSTR!~INCIDO\\utLSTR~~ ~~Accident Site~~about 2km to Xi'erqi, 3.4km to Life Science Park
\uexhSTRa\uLSTR+l\uSTRq!~utINT\uCONTfq~~ ~~ ~~{{rint|Beijing|8}} {{rint|Beijing|13}} {{stl|BJS|Huoying}}~~{{rmr|Ricon=R|to {{stl|BJS|Dongzhimen}}}}
uhKBHFxa!~lZOLL!~HUBaq\uBHF!~lZOLL!~HUBeq\utSTR~~ ~~{{rint|Beijing|13}} {{stl|BJS|Xi'erqi}} ~~service suspended after accident
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utSTR2!~uSTRc2\uSTR3\
uSTR+1\utSTR+4!~uSTRc4\
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On 14 December 2023, two trains on the Changping Line of the Beijing Subway in Beijing, China, collided in heavy snow, resulting in at least 515 injuries, but no fatalities. The tracks had become slippery, which caused the first train to automatically apply its brakes. The second train following behind failed to stop and crashed into the first.{{Cite web |title=Over 500 people injured in Beijing train collision amid heavy snow |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/15/over-500-people-injured-in-beijing-train-collision-amid-heavy-snow/ |access-date=15 December 2023 |website=1 News |language=en |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215153531/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/12/15/over-500-people-injured-in-beijing-train-collision-amid-heavy-snow/ |url-status=live }}
Background
The two trains involved in the collision were CSR Qingdao Sifang SFM13 trainsets, the first train being CP024 and the second CP032.{{Cite web |last= |title=北京地铁事故公布初步原因：雪天导致列车追尾 共515人送医院检查 |url=http://www.cnbeta.com.tw/articles/tech/1404645.htm |access-date=15 December 2023 |website=cnBeta.COM |language=zh-CN |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215153531/https://www.cnbeta.com.tw/articles/tech/1404645.htm |url-status=live }} They entered service in 2015.
There was heavy snow the day before the collision, which caused the temporary closure of some train lines and schools, and above-ground trains were instructed to be operated manually and to maintain a larger gap between trains.{{Cite news |date=15 December 2023 |title=Beijing subway crash leaves 102 with broken bones |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67724238 |access-date=15 December 2023 |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215131607/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-67724238 |url-status=live }} On the day of the accident, Beijing set an orange alert for heavy snow and a yellow alert for icy roads, which is unusual for Beijing as it rarely experiences snowfall.{{Cite magazine |date=15 December 2023 |title=515 People Injured in Train Collision in Beijing |url=https://time.com/6547867/beijing-train-collision-snow-injury-toll/ |access-date=15 December 2023 |magazine=TIME |language=en |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215153533/https://time.com/6547867/beijing-train-collision-snow-injury-toll/ |url-status=live }} Changping line on which the accident occurred transports approximately 400,000 people each weekday.
Collision
The collision occurred during rush hour, at about 19:00 CST on the Changping line in Beijing.{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Simone |date=15 December 2023 |title=Beijing metro train collision sends hundreds to hospital |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/15/travel/beijing-train-accident-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=15 December 2023 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215153530/https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/15/travel/beijing-train-accident-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }} Another train, SFM93 set CP059, experienced skidding due to snowfall at Life Science Park station, the signalling system experienced a downgrade to manual, non-CBTC mode. As a result, CP024 stalled and waited in front of a signal behind CP059. CP032, which was manually driven, departed Xi'erqi station and at a speed of {{Convert|92|km/h|mph}}. CP032 performed an emergency stop but failed to stop on the slippery track and hit CP024. A statement by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport indicated that the CP032 was travelling downhill and could not brake effectively. Beijing Subway later said that CP024 had become separated at several carriages, and the front two cars of CP032 involved in the collision had detached.
Aftermath
File:1834851 at Xi'erqi Subway Station (20231215141413).jpg
The two trains involved lost power, leading to passengers being left in the dark and smashing windows open for fresh air. By 23:00, all passengers were evacuated by emergency services. More than 500 people were brought to hospitals, 102 of whom suffered bone fractures. As of 06:00 the next day, 423 had been released, 25 were under observation, and 67 others remained hospitalised. There were no fatalities.
Immediately after the accident, the Xi'erqi station was closed to facilitate rescue operations. Rail services on the Changping Line between Xi'erqi and Zhuxinzhuang stations were also suspended due to the damaged trains blocking the track. On 15 December, the Changping line continued to operate without service between Xi'erqi and Zhuxinzhuang stations, with replacement shuttle bus services provided for the closed section.{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Phoebe |date=15 December 2023 |title=Icy track to blame for Beijing commuter train failure, more than 100 injured |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3245178/icy-track-blame-beijing-commuter-train-mishap-more-100-injured |access-date=15 December 2023 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215140933/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3245178/icy-track-blame-beijing-commuter-train-mishap-more-100-injured |url-status=live }}
Following the collision, Beijing Subway offered an apology and said that it would pay for passengers' medical costs. Passengers who had already left the scene but experienced discomfort later were also welcomed to contact Beijing Subway.{{Cite web |title=北京地铁昌平线雪夜发生追尾事故 致102人骨折 |url=https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20231215-1456384 |access-date=15 December 2023 |website=Lianhe Zaobao |language=zh-Hans |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215153531/https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20231215-1456384 |url-status=live }}
The incident had also sparked criticism from netizens, with one Weibo user questioning the maintenance of the network and asked whether Beijing Subway was "taking the lives of hundreds of people too lightly".
On 16 December, full services on the Changping Line resumed.{{cite web|url=https://news.ycwb.com/2023-12/15/content_52386957.htm|date=15 December 2023|title=北京地铁昌平线16日起全线恢复正常运营|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215181114/https://news.ycwb.com/2023-12/15/content_52386957.htm|archive-date=15 December 2023|access-date=16 December 2023|url-status=live}} 12 cars (CP0241-CP0246 and CP0321-CP0326) were removed from service and have been stored at Dingsilu Yard since at least 5 February 2024.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Beijing Subway collision, 2023}}
{{2023 railway accidents}}
{{Railway accidents and incidents in China}}
Category:2023 disasters in China
Category:December 2023 in China
Category:Railway accidents and incidents in China