(Yicai Global) April 22 -- China Railway Construction Engineering Group has  completed hoisting the first steel column for the state-owned giant's  reconstruction of Beijing's Fengtai Railway Station.

The 398,800-square-meter station will become China's first double-level  railway station and one of the largest in Asia, state-backed Xinhua News  Agency reported.

The upper level will mainly serve high-speed trains including the  Beijing-Guangzhou link while the lower layer will serve conventional  trains. It will also connect to lines 10 and 16 of the capital's subway  system. 

The project uses high-altitude welding robots and other intelligent  technologies to ensure safety and quality during the construction of  large-scale steel structures, said Wu Changlu, manager of the  reconstruction project.

"Each steel structure also has a QR code showing its identity," he said.  "After scanning, we are able to know its three-dimensional model,  installation position, section size and component weight in real time,  as well as monitor its quality through welding records." 

Located to the south of Beijing, the station is the capital's oldest with over  120 years of history. It has been closed since 2010 for the  reconstruction, which is slated for completion in 2021. The development  will serve as a large integrated transportation hub combining high-speed  and intercity railways, as well as bus and subway connections.

Editor: William Clegg