Beijing Subway fares are still set to rise, we still don’t know when, we still don’t know by how much, but it looks like the increase will be at least double compared to current pricing.

Two plans, both distance-based instead of the current flat rate, have been submitted to the Beijing Municipal Government for consideration. One would keep the initial fare at RMB 2, with an average fare of RMB 4.4. The other would have an initial fare of RMB 3, with an average of RMB 4.3.

One report indicated that “plans” will be available for frequent riders offering discounts of 20-50 percent, although neither those plans nor the pricing structure based on distance was not illuminated.

So, we know we’ll be paying more, we just don’t know when or how much. 

The fare rise comes in response to huge losses by the transport system, over RMB 3 billion in 2013.

More subway lines and line extensions are due by the end of 2014, including a new eastern spur of Line 6 that will take the east-west conduit almost as far as the bedroom community of Yanjiao in Hebei province.

Photo: Wikimedia