Xi'an Metro

Xi'an Metro
A line 14 train in May 2023
A line 14 train in May 2023
Overview
LocaleXi'an and Xianyang
Transit typeRapid transit
Number of lines11
Number of stations211
Daily ridership3.5365 million (2023 average)[1]
Annual ridership1.29082 billion (2023)[1]
Operation
Began operation16 September 2011; 13 years ago (2011-09-16)
Operator(s)Xi'an Rail Transit Group Co., Ltd.
Technical
System length379.2 km (236 mi)
Track gauge1435 mm (standard gauge)
Xi'an Metro
Traditional Chinese西安地鐵
Simplified Chinese西安地铁
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXī'ān Dìtiě

The Xi'an Metro, also known as the Xi'an Rail Transit, is a rapid transit system in the city of Xi'an and the neighbouring city of Xianyang, in Shaanxi province, China.

The system has 11 lines in operation. Line 2 opened to the public on September 16, 2011.[2] Line 1 began operation on September 15, 2013. Line 3 began operation after months of delay on November 8, 2016. Line 4 opened on December 26, 2018. Lines 5, 6, 9 opened in December 2020. Line 14 opened in September 2019 and extended in June 2021. Xihu Line opened in November 2022. Line 16 opened on June 27, 2023. Line 10 opened on September 28, 2024.[3]

Line 8 is expected to open in December 2024 and Line 15 is expected to open in June 2025. Line 17 is expected to open no earlier than late 2027.

History

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Initial proposals for a subway in Xi'an were created in the 70s which called for the Xi'an City Wall to be demolished to make way for a ring subway line. This was similar to what was done to create Beijing Subway Line 2, but the plan was scrapped due to successful opposition by preservationists and lack of funding for the project.[4] Later, Xi'an began its planning a multiline metro system in the mid-1980s. The plan was first submitted to the State Council in 1994, with four planned lines and a total length of 73.2 km (45.5 mi). In February 2004, the re-drafted plan was submitted to the State Government, which received final approval on September 13, 2006.

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 the Xi'an City Wall. It is 26.6 km (16.5 mi) long with 23.5 km (14.6 mi) lying underground, approximately 20 metres (65 ft 7 in) below the surface. It is estimated to have cost 17.9 billion yuan (US$2.24 billion).[5] The route stretches from the Beikezhan to Weiqunan with 20 stops. The travel time is 39 minutes for the entire length, cutting the commute almost in half. Operations began on 28 September 2011.[citation needed]

Four other routes were planned to start construction in 2011 and to be finished by around 2020. When completed, the system will span 251.8 km (156.5 mi) and will mainly service the urban and suburban districts of Xi'an and part of Xianyang.[6]

On June 12, 2019, the NDRC approved the Phase III (2018-2024) Construction Plan of Xi'an Metro. The plan includes Line 1 (Phase 3), Line 2 (Phase 2), Line 8, Line 10 (Phase 1), Line 14, Line 15 (Phase 1), Line 16 (Phase 1). The total length of Xi'an Metro will be 423 kilometres (263 mi) in 2024.[7]

Lines in operation

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Line Terminals
(District)
Commencement Newest
Extension
Length
km
Stations Operators
 1  Xianyangxizhan
(Qindu, Xianyang)
Fangzhicheng
(Baqiao)
2013 2023 41.45[8] 30
 2  Caotan
(Weiyang)
Changninggong
(Chang'an)
2011 2023 33.637[9][10] 25
 3  Yuhuazhai
(Yanta)
Baoshuiqu
(Baqiao)
2016 39.15 26
 4  Xi'an Beizhan
(Weiyang)
Hangtian Xincheng
(Chang'an)
2018 35.2 29
 5  Matengkong
(Yanta)
Chuangxingang
(Chang'an)
2020 41.6[11] 31
 6  Xi'annanzhan
(Chang'an)
Fangzhicheng
(Baqiao)
2020 2024 35.1[11] 32
 9  Fangzhicheng
(Baqiao)
Qinlingxi
(Lintong)
2020 25.3 15
 10  Jingshangcun
(Weiyang)
Zhaohuiguangchang
(Gaoling)
2024 34.4 17
 14  Airport West (T1, T2, T3)
(Weicheng, Xianyang)
Heshao
(Baqiao)
2019 2021 42.96 17[a]
 16  Qinchuangyuanzhongxin Shijingli 2023 15.03 9
 Xihu  Epanggongnan Huxian
(Huyi)
2022 26.3 2
Total 379.2 211
  1. ^ Airport (T5) station is not opened.

Line 1

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The second route, Line 1, was scheduled to start in late 2009 but was brought one year earlier as per Chinese government's response to the Great Recession. Line 1 opened on 15 September 2013. The route runs from east to west. The line is 31.45 km (19.54 mi)[8] with 23 stations.

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

Line 2

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Yongningmen Station

Line 2 opened on 16 September 2011. This line is 26.715 km (16.600 mi)[9] long with 21 stations.[12]

Line 3

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Construction of Xi'an Metro's Line 3 broke ground in May 2011,[13] began public trial testing on September 20, 2016, and was opened at November 8, 2016. The line is currently 39.15 km (24.33 mi) long with 26 stations. When Phase 2 (still under planning) opens, the line will be 50.5 km (31.4 mi) long and with 31 stations.

Line 4

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Construction of test section of Line 4 of Xi'an Metro started in late 2012.

Line 4 started service on December 26, 2018.[14][15][16]

Line 5

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Line 6

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Line 6 opened on 28 December 2020.[citation needed]

Line 9

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Line 10

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Line 14

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The 29.31 km western section from Airport West (T1, T2, T3) to Xi'an Beizhan opened on 29 September 2019. The 13.65 km (8.48 mi) eastern section from Xi'an Beizhan to Heshao opened on 29 June 2021.

Line 16

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Line 16 opened on 27 June 2023.[3]

Xihu Line

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Xihu Line opened in November 2022.

Future development

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The final sections of Lines 5 & 6 connect to two new railway stations and are to open at the same time as those stations.

On June 12, 2019, the NDRC approved the Phase III (2018-2024) Construction Plan of Xi'an Metro. The plan includes Line 1 (Phase 3), Line 2 (Phase 2), Line 8, Line 10 (Phase 1), Line 14, Line 15 (Phase 1), Line 16 (Phase 1). The total length of Xi'an Metro will be 423 kilometres (263 mi) in 2024.[17]

Planned operation time Construction since Line
Phase/Section Terminals Length
in km
Stations Reference
2024 2019  8  Loop Line 49.89[10] 37[10] [10]
2025 2020  15  Phase I Xiliu Hanjiawan 19.5[18] 13[18] [18]
2026 2019  5  Phase I (remaining section) Yanminghu Xi'andongzhan (Xi'an East Railway Station) 3.66 1
2028 2024  17  Phase I Airport (T5) Fupingxingzhengzhongxin 69.3 8
Total 142.35

Accidents

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On 30 December 2008, a fire occurred that was extinguished within an hour; all workers evacuated safely. Just 66 hours later, on 2 January, another fire occurred at another station on Line 2.[19]

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

On 2 August 2009, 9:20am, a cave-in at the construction site of Sajinqiao section of Line 1 trapped migrant workers under 10 cubic meters of earth for over three hours, hospitalizing at least two who later died at the hospital.[20]


Network map

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Map


See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "运送乘客237.1亿人次,新增运营里程1168公里…2021年城市轨道交通运营成绩单". 2022-01-13. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  2. ^ "西安地铁二号线开通 西安迈入"地铁时代"" 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.
  3. ^ a b "西安地铁16号线明日11时通车试运营 设9个站点单程运行20分钟".
  4. ^ "西安城墙曾面临拆除 老干部称可防原子弹|西安城墙|原子弹|古建筑_新浪新闻". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  5. ^ "Xi'an: Ancient City Gets Own Metro System". China.org.cn. September 29, 2006.
  6. ^ "Xian: the Building of Subway to Start This Year". Travel China Guide. September 14, 2006. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "国家发展改革委关于西安市城市轨道交通第三期建设规划(2018-2024年)的批复". 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  8. ^ a b "西安市地铁一号线三期工程(秦都站~森林公园)环境影响报告书(征求意见稿)". 西安地铁官方网站. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  9. ^ a b "西安市地铁二号线二期工程(常宁~韦曲南、北客站~草滩北)环境影响报告书(征求意见稿)". 西安地铁官方网站. 2019-10-08. Retrieved 2019-10-08.
  10. ^ a b c d "西安地铁2号线二期、8号线今日正式开工". 2019-10-31. Archived from the original on 2023-06-12.
  11. ^ a b "西安地铁5号线、6号线一期、9号线正式开通初期运营". 28 December 2020.
  12. ^ 市政府召开西安地铁开通试运营新闻发布会. 2011-09-16. Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
  13. ^ "Xi'an Subway Line 3 Breaks New Ground". eChinacities.com. May 19, 2011. [dead link]
  14. ^ "西安地铁四号线明日上午10时开通试运营-原创频道-西安网". o4g.xiancity.cn. Archived from the original on 2018-12-25.
  15. ^ "西安地铁4号线获批建设 与2号线构成南北向客流"双走廊"". wmxa.cn. May 6, 2014.
  16. ^ 西安地铁四号线昨开始盾构 从南到北共设29站 新浪陕西
  17. ^ "国家发展改革委关于西安市城市轨道交通第三期建设规划(2018-2024年)的批复". 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
  18. ^ a b c "西安地铁15号线一期工程开工建设 线路全长约19.5千米共设车站13座". 2020-09-29.
  19. ^ "Subway Collapse Kills Two in Xi'an". CRIENGLISH.com. China Radio International. August 3, 2009. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012.
  20. ^ ""军令状"为何挡不住事故频发" (in Chinese). 4 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
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