Express parcels carried by off-peak subway train

Beijing's metro system is being utilized in a pilot scheme to transport express post during off-peak hours, the first trial of its kind in the country.

On Monday noon, four express boxes, each about the size of a large suitcase, were transported through subway Line 4 in the capital.

The boxes, accompanied by security staff, were loaded at National Library Station, placed in the last carriage of the train, and unloaded at Haidian Huangzhuang Station.

The pilot aims to improve the utilization of the urban rail transit system, alleviate traffic congestion and lower carbon emissions, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.

Express boxes will be placed on trains at the Xidan, National Library and Weigongcun stations, and will be taken off at Haidian Huangzhuang on subway Line 4 at around 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm on weekdays, said Zhao Chunbo, a station manager of subway Line 4 from Beijing MTR Corp.

"We've selected the time period because the average load factor is lower than 50 percent, so it will not affect passengers," he said, adding that the service is offered without adjusting trains' departure or station wait time and without having to adjust any facilities.

A passenger surnamed Fang, who sat in the last carriage of subway Line 4 on Monday noon, said the express boxes would not affect her experience, as they are placed at the back of the carriage.

Kang Xianjian, head of operations planning at the Beijing branch of logistics company SF Express, participating in the pilot, said that compared with ground transportation, rail transit is more stable and can arrive at destinations as much as 30 minutes earlier, so that residents can receive their parcels faster.

"It also helps reduce traffic," he said. "The service now covers express delivery within the fifth ring road of the city, and each time will carry no more than eight boxes."

Security checks are conducted when deliverymen receive the parcels, and when they arrive at the subway stations, the workers will do the security check again. The company uses specially designed recyclable boxes instead of disposable cartons to fit rail transit and reduce waste, Kang said.

Beijing has more than 20 million permanent residents and a daily delivery volume of about 15 million parcels, mainly transported by road.

A similar pilot was launched by China Post on Saturday to transport newspapers via a route using Line 9, as well as Fangshan and Yanfang lines in Beijing's subway network, according to the commission.