Wuhan Metro

Infobox Public transit
name = Wuhan Metro


imagesize =
locale = Wuhan
transit_type = Rapid transit
began_operation = 2004
ended_operation =
system_length = km to mi|10.2|abbr=yes|precision=1
lines = 1
vehicles =
stations = 10
ridership =
track_gauge =
reporting marks =
operator =
owner =

The Wuhan Metro (zh-sp|s=武汉轨道交通|p=Wǔhàn Guǐdào Jiāotōng) is an elevated and underground metro system in the city of Wuhan, China. It is referred to as a light rail system in Chinese terminology. The first line, located entirely within the Hankou part of the city, opened on September 28, 2004.

Lines

Line 1

Line 1 is a 10.2-km line. The line has ten stations. In the future, by the year 2010, Line 1 will be extended from both ends, and will be extended into a 30-km line with 26 stations. Current Line 1 stations are: Zongguan, Taipingyang, Qiaokoulu, Chongrenlu, Lijibeilu, Youyilu, Jianghanlu (connection with future Line 2), Dazhilu, Sanyanglu, Huangpulu.

Controversy:Because of poor planning "(the line was implemented on viaduct in the middle of the right of way of an unused railway line to reduce the construction/relocation cost)" and an accelerated construction pace, ridership is now very low: 20,000 Trips/day instead of more than 500,000 planned. The main reasons are:
* poor location not serving historical and commercial city center (an underground link would have probably been necessary),
* competition with buses which parallel the Metro line at less than 400 m and whose prices are cheaper and stops are more closely spaced,
* very poor accessibility caused by the viaduct which makes pedestrians cross wide, busy roads to get to the metro line and the lack of elevator access forcing a long walk up stairs to the platforms,
* the absence of fare integration of the whole network as mass transit in Wuhan is managed by several operators ("i.e. Metro and Buses") whose interests are sometimes far different,
* the lack of real ridership planning
* the political will to be the sixth or seventh city with a Metro in China, before Shenyang or other competitive cities.

All of this led to a costly, inefficient project that badly needs to be integrated with the rest of the transportation system by at least:
* an integrated fare structure
* the creation of feeder bus routes, and probably in the long term,
* redesigning the central part of the line by the historic central city to make it more easily accessed and customer friendly.

Line 2

Line 2 will mostly be underground. It will run in a northwest-southeast route between Hankou and Wuchang, with two branches in Wuchang. The line is expected to be finished by 2010.

Line 4

Line 4, which will also be primarily underground, will be an east-west route serving the Hanyang and Wuchang areas. It is also expected to be finished by 2010.

Future Lines

Line 3, Line 5, Line 6 and Line 7 are currently being planned.

See also

* List of rapid transit systems

External links

* [http://www.urbanrail.net/as/wuha/wuhan.htm UrbanRail.net's page on the Wuhan Metro]