Line 3, Shanghai Metro

Line 3 is an operating line of the Shanghai Metro system. Briefly known as the Pearl Line (明珠线), it is marked bright yellow in official maps. Line 3 trains also carry a bright yellow colour belt for convenience of identification.

Unlike the majority of the lines in the Shanghai Metro system, Line 3 is primarily elevated, entirely above ground except for its Tieli Road Station, located at the entrance to Baosteel Group Corporation.

The line runs from North Jiangyang Road in the north to Shanghai South Railway Station in the southwest of the city, where it meets Line 1. While Line 1 goes straight through the city center, Line 3 roughly follows the Inner Ring Road around the city from Caoxi Road to Zhongtan Road (where it turns eastwards to join the route of the Shanghai-Nanjing Railway). It shares tracks with Line 4 between Hongqiao Road and Baoshan Road, thereby making transfer between two lines easier.

The line principally follows old rail routes around the town: a ring from the old Shanghai–Hangzhou Railway that connected the Shanghai South Railway Station (a major station on Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway) with Shanghai Railway Station (on Shanghai-Nanjing Railway), and a northern stretch from Baoshan Road to Songbin Road Station from the former Songhu Railway (a.k.a. Woosung Road), whose remnants can be found just north of Line 3's Dabaishu station.

The trains on Line 3 are manufactured by the French company Alstom and by Nanjing Puzhen.

History

• December 26, 2000: Shanghai South Railway Station-Jiangwan Town (trial opening)
• August 2001: Shanghai South Railway Station-Jiangwan Town (official opening)
• January 2004: As part of the Shanghai South Railway Station reconstruction scheme, Line 3 suspended service at the station, operating between Shilong Road and Jiangwan Town.
• June 10, 2004: Service suspended at Shilong Road, Longcao Road (Shanghai Metro) and Caoxi Road for automatic signal system testing and restoration of land subsidence at these three stations. Service was restored at these stations on July 24.
• October 15, 2005: Service to Shanghai South Railway Station was restored after the completion of the reconstruction scheme.
• December 18, 2006: Line 3 was extended from Jiangwan Town 15 km further north to North Jiangyang Road, providing rapid transit service to neighbourhoods in Baoshan, as well as to the Baosteel Group Corporation]].^[2].

In October 2006, according to a new naming scheme, East Wenshui Road station was renamed Dabaishu station. The scheme stressed naming stations after existing toponyms, sights and attractions (if any) rather than simply after neighbouring vertical streets, making it easier for visitors to find these places.^[3] In this particular case, the renaming aimed also to eliminate possible confusion between East Wenshui Road and Wenshui Road, a newer station of Line 1. However, in a more recent case, the same type of confusion occurred at West Yingao Road station of Line 3 and East Yingao Road station of Line 10.

Current Operation

Because it shares tracks with Line 4, Line 3 operates on a comparatively looser schedule, with an average interval of around 7 minutes (5 minutes in the peak hours). However, riders can expect a 2-minute train interval at any one of the shared-line stations during rush hour. To avoid confusion, Line 3 trains have the number 3 painted on the sides of trains, and Line 4 trains the number 4.

It should be noted that not all trains serve the whole line. Because Baoshan District is largely suburban, some trains stop service at South Changjiang Road, while others continue to North Jiangyang Road, the northernmost station. Therefore, service between South Changjiang Road and North Jiangyang Road operates on a 10-to-12-minute basis, compared to the rest of the line which operates on a 5-to-7-minute basis. An LED screen in front of a train will indicate its terminal station, in addition to the station broadcast and the arrival board.

Because Line 3 is elevated, transferring to other underground stations typically takes more walking. In-system transfer has been introduced to all interchange stations except Shanghai Railway Station (where Lines 3 and 4 meets Line 1) and Hongkou Football Stadium (interchange with Line 8). Virtual interchange is offered at both stations for Public Transportation Card holders.

A new in-system linkway is currently under construction at Hongkou Football Stadium.

Stations

Important Stations

• North Jiangyang Road Station – The northern terminus.
• Youyi Road Station – Baoshan Town is located near this station.
• Baoyang Road Station – Baoyang Road Ferry Terminal is located nearby.
• Songbin Road Station – This station is located at Wusong Town, with a memorial for the Songhu Railway, which was constructed in the 1890s along the route of China's first railway, the Woosung Road
• Jiangwan Town – The Jiangwan Town offices are nearby this station.
• Hongkou Football Stadium – Located near the residence of Shanghai Shenhua Football Club. Virtual interchange with Line 8.
• Shanghai Railway Station – Interchange with Line 4. A Virtual interchange with Line 1 is also present.
• Zhongshan Park – Interchange with Lines 2 and 4.
• Yishan Road – Interchange with Lines 4 and 9.
• Shanghai South Railway Station – Interchange with Line 1.

References