Xi'an Metro

Xi'an Metro
Overview
Owner Xi'an Municipal People's Government
Locale Xi'an
Transit type Rapid transit
Number of lines 2
Number of stations 39
Daily ridership 816,900 (2014 Avg.)[1]
1,226,000 (2014 Record)[2]
Annual ridership 59 million (2012)[1]
Operation
Began operation 16 September 2011
Operator(s) Xi'an Municipal People's Government Subway Construction
Technical
System length 51.9 km (32 mi)
Track gauge 1435 mm (standard gauge)
Average speed 30 km/h (19 mph)
Top speed 80 km/h (50 mph)
System map

Xi'an Metro
Traditional Chinese 西安地鐵
Simplified Chinese 西安地铁

The Xi'an Metro, also known as Xi'an Subway, is a metro system in the city of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province in China. Xi'an began its metro system plan in the mid-1980s. The Plan was first submitted to the State Council in 1994, with 4 lines planned, with a total 73.2 km (45.5 mi). In Feb 2004, the re-drafted Plan was submitted to the State Government, which received a final approval on September 13, 2006.

Line 2 began construction on 29 September 2006, and Line 1 started on October 30, 2008. Four other routes are also planned to start in 2011 and finish around 2020. When completed, the total system will span 251.8 km (156.5 mi); will mainly service the urban and suburban districts of Xi'an municipality, and part of Xianyang City.[3]

Xi'an Metro currently has two lines in operation. The first line, Line 2, opened to the public on September 16, 2011.[4] Line 1 began operation on September 15, 2013.

History

The first line, Line 2, began construction along Chang An street on 29 September 2006, and was completed in 2011. It runs north-south and passes under such historic sites as the Bell Tower and city wall. It is 26.6 km (17 mi) long with 23.5 km (15 mi) lying underground, approximately 20 meters below the surface. It is estimated to have cost 17.9 billion Yuan (US$2.24 billion).[5] The route stretches from the Xi'an North Railway Station (recently completed) to Weiqu South with 20 stops in between. The travel time is only 39 minutes for the entire length, cutting the commute almost in half. Operations began on 28 September 2011.[6]

Lines in operation

Line Terminals
(District)		 Opened Newest
Extension		 Length
km		 Stations
Line 1 Houweizhai
(Weiyang)		 Fangzhicheng
(Baqiao)		 2013 — 25.4 19
Line 2 Bei Kezhan
(Weiyang)		 Weiqunan
(Chang'an)		 2011 2014 26.5 21
Total 51.9 40

Line 1

Main article: Line 1, Xi'an Metro

The 2nd route - Line 1, was scheduled to start in later-2009, but brought one year earlier as per Chinese Government's response to the Financial crisis of 2007–2010. Line 1 opened on 15 September 2013. The route runs from east to west.

To accelerate the speed of overall economic development between Xi'an and Xianyang cities, the Transportation Department of Xi'an has decided to extend Line 1 to promote business travel between the two cities, as well as improve the efficiency of land usage alongside Line One. The preparation phase for the extension of Xi'an's Line 1 had started with the compilation of a feasibility study on November 4, 2007.

Line 2

Main article: Line 2, Xi'an Metro

Line 2 opened on the 16 September 2011. This line is currently 26.5 km (16 mi) long with 21 stations.[7]

Lines under construction

Planned system map
Yongningmen Station
Line
Phase/Section
Terminals
Construction since
Planned operation time
Length
in km
Stations
Line 3 Phase I Yuhuazhi Baoshuiqu 2011 2015 39.1 26
Line 4 Test Section Dayanta Wulukou 2011 2016 5.11 5

Line 3

Construction of Xi'an Metro's Line 3 broke ground in May 2011[8] and is set to finish in 2015. The line will be 50.5 km (31.4 mi)  long and 31 stations are planned.

Lines under planning

There will be 17 metro lines in Xi'an before 2030.[9]

Development

Construction work on Line 2 (2009)

Other metro lines, including Line Four, Line Five, and Line Six will start construction after 2020, according to the plan.

Accidents

On 2 August 2009, 9:20am, a cave-in at the Sajinqiao section of line one trapped migrant workers under 10 cubic meters of earth for over three hours, killing at least two who later died in the hospital.

On 26 May 2009, an individual suffered minor injuries from a fire during infrastructure work on Line 1.

On 30 December 2008, a fire accident occurred that was later extinguished within an hour and all workers evacuated safely. Sixty six hours later, on 2 January, another fire occurred at another station on line 2.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "双线效果明显 西安地铁日客流量突破47万". sohu auto. 2013-09-19. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  2. ↑ 和冰、雷浩 (September 9, 2014). "中秋小长假西安地铁客运量达394.89万人次" (in Chinese). 人民网. Retrieved 2014年10月13日查阅. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ↑ "Xian: the Building of Subway to Start This Year". Travel China Guide. September 14, 2006.
  4. ↑ 西安地铁二号线开通 西安迈入"地铁时代" [Xi'an Metro line brings Xi'an into the "metro era"]. China National Radio (in Chinese). Beijing. September 16, 2006.
  5. ↑ "Xi'an: Ancient City Gets Own Metro System". China.org.cn. September 29, 2006.
  6. ↑ "Xi'an Subway Line 2 to begin trial runs on September 28". Global Times. June 29, 2011.
  7. ↑ "市政府召开西安地铁开通试运营新闻发布会". 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  8. ↑ "Xi’an Subway Line 3 Breaks New Ground". eChinacities.com. May 19, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Xian Metro Planning Map". Retrieved 2014-10-07.
  10. ↑ "Subway Collapse Kills Two in Xi'an". CRIENGLISH.com. China Radio International. August 3, 2009.

External links

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