Over the last two decades, China has implemented an unprecedented nationwide expansion programme of new rapid transit lines in local transport, which primarily comprises underground and suburban lines similar to commuter rail and is unlikely to be completed for a long time yet. An overview about the recent openings in the cuntry you may find at the end of this article.
For some time now, the Chinese have also been relying on tramway / light rail systems – there are already a number of quite systems in operation – quite different in terms of technical and operational specifications. The two tramway lines that operate in the outskirts of the Chinese capital since 2017 and 2020 are a good example of the diversity of operations.
The Xijiao Line
The so-called Xijiao Line is 8.8 kilometres long, connecting to the metro’s outer circular line 10 at Bagou and terminating five stops later at Fragrant Hills. Unlike most urban rail lines in the metropolitan area of Greater Beijing, this first tramway line, which opened in 2017, is largely used for leisure transport. It mainly serves the large Xiangshan Park, the Botanical Gardens and the Summer Palace of the Chinese Emperors. The line runs entirely on two tracks on its own railway track, mostly away from public roads. There are also several shorter and one longer tunnel section along the route.
The depot is located directly at the Bagou transfer station to the metro. A total of 31 five-section low-floor trams are stationed there, which were supplied by the manufacturer CRRC Dalian and follow the well-known Ansaldo Breda (Hitachi) Sirio model. The tram operate as coupled pairs in double traction during most of the time, but despite the high frequency, demand is so high, especially at weekends and during school holidays, that long queues of waiting passengers form at individual stations. In order to ‘channel’ passenger access to some extent, platform doors and control barriers with ticket control have been installed at all stations. Further expansion of the line is planned, but increasing the frequency in order to increase capacity on the existing route appears to be virtually impossible at present.
The Yizhuang New Town line T1
In contrast, the second tram line opened in the Beijing area has seen far less demand. It is known as the Yizhuang New Town line, line number T1, and has been connecting Quzhuang with Dinghaiyuan through the south-western suburbs of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (Yizhuang Development Area) over a length of 11.9 km since New Year’s Eve 2020.
In particular, the north-eastern, short section from the Rongchangdongije metro station on the Yizhuang line of the metro over four stations to Dinghaiyuan still shows potential for increasing passenger numbers. This may also be due to the rather slow operation: The line runs predominantly on its own track in the centre of the road, but there is no signal preference for the trams at the traffic light junctions. The journey on the north-east section alone takes around 15-16 minutes with just four stops. On the entire route, it takes around 55 minutes with 14 stops (including both terminus stations), which corresponds to a travelling speed of just under 13 km/h.
At the Dinghaiyuan terminus, the track continues for around 500 metres – an extension towards the north-east could be built here in the future. At the other end of the T1 line, a 1.3 kilometre extension from Quzhuang to Laoguanli has been under construction for some time.
There are currently 19 five-section low-floor trams from local manufacturer Beijing Subway Rolling Stock Equipment Company in operation on the T1 line. They are equipped with battery storage systems that allow short journeys without overhead contact lines. This is used in the depot area and actually also at some major road junctions. The overhead contact line is raised before the crossing and ends at the side. The pantograph of the trams rises slightly when the overhead ends and remains in this position until it comes into contact with the overhead line again at another point and is pressed down again slightly by the voltage and maintains contact – quite interesting for outsiders to observe.
Entering the overhead section:
Other tram projects
Several other tram projects have been in the planning stage for years in the greater Beijing area, in the districts of Fengtai and Shunyi. The construction of the T2 line in Shunyi began several years ago. However, metro construction has obviously taken priority in the current expansion projects.
In addition to these modern systems, a short replica battery tram has been running on Qianmen Avenue in the southern city centre area as a tourist attraction since 2008.
A network map of all Beijing urban rail transport is avilable here:
https://www.urbanrail.net/as/cn/beij/beijing.htm.
CHINA – Metro & Suburban metro openings in December 2024 & January 2025
10 Jan 2025 Ningbo Line 4: Cicheng – Cicheng West (1.7 km)
02 Jan 2025 Chongqing Bitong Line: Bishan – Tongliangxi (37.5 km) NEW LINE
01 Jan 2025 Hangzhou Line 5: Jinxing – East Nanhu (1.6 km)
30 Dec 2024 Shenyang Line 3: Lida – Nan Liguan (23 km) NEW LINE
29 Dec 2024 Zhengzhou Line 7: Dongzhao – Nangangliu (26.8 km) NEW LINE
Line 8: Tianjianhu – Lumiao (51.8 km) NEW LINE
28 Dec 2024 Guiyang Line S1: Wangchengpo – Zaojiaoba (30.3 km) NEW LINE
28 Dec 2024 Guangzhou Line 11: Circle Line (44.2 km) NEW LINE
28 Dec 2024 Shenzhen Line 3: Shuanglong – Pingdi Liulian (9.4 km)
Line 7: Xili Lake – SZU Lihu Campus (2.5 km)
Line 11: Gangxia North – Huaqiang South (4.4 km)
Line 12: Waterlands Resort East – Songgang (8.2 km)
Line 13: Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint – Hi-Tech Central NEW LINE
28 Dec 2024 Nanjing Line 7: Yingtiandajie – Mufuxilu
28 Dec 2024 Tianjin Line 11: Dongjiangdao – Shuishanggongyuanxilu
27 Dec 2024 Wuhan Line 11: Wuhandong Railway Station – Jiang’an Road (16.3 km)
27 Dec 2024 Shanghai Airport Link Line: Hongqiao Airport T2 – Pudong Airport T1&2 (59 km) NEW LINE
26 Dec 2024 Xi’an Line 8: Circle Line (50 km) NEW LINE
26 Dec 2024 Hefei Line 8: Yilijing – Beicheng Gaotiezhan (22.5 km) NEW LINE
19 Dec 2024 Chengdu Line 8: Guilong Road – Shilidian & Lianhua – Longgang (7.6 km)
19 Dec 2024 Chengdu Line 27: Shifo – Shuxin Road (24.9 km) NEW LINE
18 Dec 2024 Qingdao Line 2: Taishan Road – Sichuan Road
15 Dec 2024 Beijing Line 3: Dongsi Shitiao – Dongbabei (14.7 km) NEW LINE
Line 12: Sijiqingqiao – Dongbabei (26.8 km) NEW LINE
Changping Line: Xitucheng – Jimenqiao
03 Dec 2024 Xuzhou Line 3: Xiadian – Zhenxingdadao (6.6 km) & Gaoxinqunan – Yinshan (1.6 km)
01 Dec 2024 Suzhou Line 7: Hongzhuang – Changlou (24.3 km)
Source: https://www.urbanrail.net/news.htm
10.01.2025
