Guangzhou Metro

Infobox Public transit
name = Guangzhou Metro


imagesize = 80px
locale = Guangzhou
transit_type = Rapid transit
began_operation = 1999
ended_operation =
system_length = 116km
lines = 4
vehicles = 802 Trucks (Hooked In 6 Married Pairs)
stations = 60
ridership = 1.8 million (January 26, 2008)
track_gauge =
reporting marks =
operator = Guangzhou Metro Corporation
owner = City of GuangzhouChinese
s=广州地铁
t=廣州地鐵
p=Guǎng Zhōu Dìtiě
j=Gwong2zau1 Dei6tit3
y=Gwóngjàu Dèihtít

The Guangzhou Metro (广州地铁) is a metro system in the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China. It is the fourth city in China to build an underground railway system after Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. Construction began in 1993 and the first line was completed and opened in 1997 and 1999. The 60 station system is operated by the Guangzhou Metro Corporation, established in 1992 as a state owned enterprise under the Guangzhou government.

Lines in operation

The metro network currently has 4 lines operational, 3 under construction and 4 planned. The total operational length is scheduled to grow to 190.8 km by 2010 and more than 600 km in the long term plan.

Line 1 (yellow)

Line 1 runs from Xilang to Guangzhou East Railway Station (18.5km).

* June 28, 1997: Xilang - Huangsha
* June 28, 1999: Huangsha - Guangzhou East Railway Station

Line 2 (blue)

Line 2 runs from Sanyuanli to Wanshengwei, interchanging with Line 1 at Gongyuanqian (18.3km).

* December 29, 2002: Sanyuanli - Xiaogang
* June 28, 2003: Xiaogang - Pazhou
* December 26, 2005: Pazhou - Wanshengwei

Extensions north to Jiahe and south to the new Guangzhou Railway Station are scheduled for completion in 2008.

Line 3 (orange)

Line 3 is a 36-kilometer Y-shaped line connecting Guangzhou East Railway Station (Line 1) and Tianhe Coach Terminal to Panyu Square. The line will in the future also be extended to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.

* December 26, 2005: Guangzhou East Railway Station - Kecun
* December 30, 2006: Kecun - Panyu Square
* December 30, 2006: Tianhe Coach Terminal - Tiyu Xilu

Line 4 (green)

Line 4 will eventually run from the Guangzhou Science Town to Nansha, it currently starts at Wanshengwei (formerly "Pazhouta"), where passengers could interchange with Line 2. The total length is 68.96km (as at November 2007 in operation).

* December 26, 2005: Wanshengwei - Xinzao
* December 30, 2006: Xinzao - Huangge (except Guanqiao, Qingsheng)
* June 28, 2007: Huangge - Jinzhou

Lines under construction and Future Planning

Line 5 will start at Jiaokou and will run to Wenchong in the Huangpu District. It will be completed in 2008 with stations at Jiaokou, Datansha (connection with Line 6), Zhongshan Ba, Xichang, Xicun, Guangzhou Railway Station (Connection with Line 2), Xiaobei, Taojin, Ouzhuang (Connection with Line 6), Zoo, Yangji (Connection with Line 1), Wuyangcun, Zhujiang New Town, (Connection with Line 3) Liede, Tancun, Yuancun, Keyun Road, Chebei South (Connection with Line 4), Dongpu, Sanxi, Yuzhu, Dashadi, Dashadong and Wenchong.

Line 6 will start at Xunfenggang near the border of Foshan and will terminate at Gaotangshi in Luogang District. It will be completed in 2010 with stations at Xunfenggang, Hengsha, Shabei, Datansha North, Datansha (Connection with Line 5), Ruyifang, Huangsha (Connection with Line 1), Culture Park (Connection with Line 8), Yide Road, Haizhu Square (Connection with Line 2), Beijing Road, Yuexiu South, Donghu (East Lake), Dongshankou (Connection with Line 1), Ouzhuang (Connection with Line 5), Henghuagang, Shaheding, Shahe, Tianpingjia, Yantang, Tianhe Long Distance Bus Terminal (Connection with Line 3), Changban, Southern China Botanical Garden, Longdong Forestry Centre, Kemulang and Gaotangshi

Line 8 The first phase of Line 8 will run from Fenghuang Xincun to Wanshengwei using part of Line 2 . It will eventually reach Jiahe paralleling Line 2 north of the river.

Other lines such as Line 7, Line 9, Line 10 and other lines between districts have been planned but are receiving permission to construct these lines by the government. A Guangfo line linking Foshan and south Guangzhou is under construction and an intercity high speed light rail line is under construction linking Zhuhai and the New Guangzhou Railway Station.

Fares for the Guangzhou Metro

Single tickets are bought at a kiosk at every station or by the automatic ticket vending machines. Like most cities in Asia, fares are based on distance. Fares range from 2 yuan (a couple of stations) to 12 yuan (the longest journeys). The ticket itself is a black contactless (RF) plastic token. The user has to tap it on the sensor on the ticket barrier and when he or she exits, the user has to insert it at the exit gate, the token is retained. It will not be valid if it is expired (past 2 and a half hours after validation). The other preferable payment method is the Yang Cheng Tong which is similar in function to that of the Octopus Card in Hong Kong or the Oyster in London. The Yang Cheng Tong offers discounts for riding the Metro.

Rolling Stock

* 126 Adtranz-Siemens AG Type B-car (Movia 456) - line 1
* 156 Bombardier Transportation/Changchun Car Company Type B-car (Movia 456) - line 2
* 120 Siemens AG/Zhuzhou Electrical Locomotive Works Metro cars - line 3
* 300 Kawasaki Heavy Industries + Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Series 05? - line 4-6

External links

* [http://www.gzmtr.com/en/ Guangzhou Metro]
* [http://www.urbanrail.net/as/guan/guangzhou.htm Urbanrail: Guangzhou]