Wuhan Metro
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| Wuhan Metro | |
| Locale | Wuhan |
|---|---|
| Transit type | Rapid transit |
| Began operation | 2004 |
| System length | 10.2 km (6.3 mi) |
| No. of lines | 1 |
| No. of stations | 10 |
The Wuhan Metro (simplified Chinese: 武汉轨道交通; pinyin: Wǔhàn Guǐdào Jiāotōng) is an elevated and underground metro system in the city of Wuhan, China. It is referred to as a light rail system in Chinese terminology. The first line, located entirely within the Hankou part of the city, opened on September 28, 2004.
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[edit] Lines
[edit] Line 1
Line 1 is a 10.2-km line. The line has ten stations. In the future, by the year 2010, Line 1 will be extended from both ends, and will be extended into a 30-km line with 26 stations. Current Line 1 stations are: Zongguan, Taipingyang, Qiaokoulu, Chongrenlu, Lijibeilu, Youyilu, Jianghanlu (connection with future Line 2), Dazhilu, Sanyanglu, Huangpulu.
Controversy: Because of poor planning (the line was implemented on viaduct in the middle of the right of way of an unused railway line to reduce the construction/relocation cost) and an accelerated construction pace, ridership is now very low: 20,000 Trips/day instead of more than 500,000 planned. The main reasons are:
- poor location not serving historical and commercial city center (an underground link would have probably been necessary),
- competition with buses which parallel the Metro line at less than 400 m and whose prices are cheaper and stops are more closely spaced,
- very poor accessibility caused by the viaduct which makes pedestrians cross wide, busy roads to get to the metro line and the lack of elevator access forcing a long walk up stairs to the platforms,
- the absence of fare integration of the whole network as mass transit in Wuhan is managed by several operators (i.e. Metro and Buses) whose interests are sometimes far different,
- the lack of real ridership planning
- the political will to be the sixth or seventh city with a Metro in China, before Shenyang or other competitive cities.
All of this led to a costly, inefficient project that badly needs to be integrated with the rest of the transportation system by at least:
- an integrated fare structure
- the creation of feeder bus routes, and probably in the long term,
- redesigning the central part of the line by the historic central city to make it more easily accessed and customer friendly.
[edit] Line 2
Line 2 will mostly be underground. It will run in a northwest-southeast route between Hankou and Wuchang, with two branches in Wuchang. The line is expected to be finished by 2010.
[edit] Line 4
Line 4, which will also be primarily underground, will be an east-west route serving the Hanyang and Wuchang areas. It is also expected to be finished by 2010.
[edit] Future Lines
Line 3, Line 5, Line 6 and Line 7 are currently being planned.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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