Binhai Mass Transit

The Tianjin Binhai Mass Transit (BMT) (滨海快速) or Jinbin light rail (津滨轻轨) is a light rail rapid transit line that connects metropolitan Tianjin to TEDA. The east part of the line started service on March 28, 2004, and the western part will be known as Line 9 of the Tianjin Metro.

Introduction

The total length of the east part, from Zhongshanmen to Donghailu, is 45.409 km, of which, 39.915 km is elevated, and 5.494 km is on ground, taking a total of around an hour in length in either direction. A large portion of the service is alongside with the Jintang expressway. The west part, from Zhongxinguangchang to Zhongshanmen, will be 7.35 km long, of which, 0.58 km will be elevated, 0.28 km will be transition, 6.67 km will be underground. The total length of the line will be 52.76 km, and the Binhai line is the longest rapid transit line in China. The construction work of the west part began in 2004, to be completed in 2008.

The train can travel up to 100 km/h. which is the speed record of all rapid transit systems in China. Of 4 bridges along the line, the No. 1 and No. 4 bridges are long, which use ballastless track, and the No. 2 and No. 3 bridges use ballasted track. The No. 1 bridge, from Guanghua road (between Dongxinglu and Zhongshanmen stations) to Babao, total length 25.8 km, is the longest bridge used in rapid transit systems in China.

History

* 2001 May 18 - Construction begins
* 2003 September 30 - Construction completes
* 2004 March 28 - Trial service begins, 6 stations are open to service: Zhongshanmen, Donglikaifaqu, Gangguangongsi, Yanghuoshichang, Dongtinglu, and Donghailu. The price of the tickets are 3 yuan for less than 30 km or 5 yuan for greater than 30 km. The first train departs at 07:00 and the last at 19:00. Hujiayuan is a special station only open to BMT staffs and Huizhanzhongxin station near TEDA football field is only open for football matches and other special events.
* 2004 May 25 - Yihaoqiao station opens for service
* 2004 September 13 - Extends open time to 06:30 - 19:00
* 2004 October 18 - Shiminguangchang station opens
* 2005 March 27 - Huizhanzhongxin station opens on normal days
* 2005 April 28 - Erhaoqiao station opens, Yihaoqiao station closes. Automatic ticket selling and checking system begins use. The price of a ticket changes to 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 yuan, depending on the travel distance. Extends open time to 06:30 - 20:00.
* Late 2005 or early 2006 - Yanghuoshichang station changed name to Tanggu; Dongtinglu changed name to Taida.
* 2006 March 1 - Yihaoqiao station reopens; Xinlizhen, Xiaodongzhuang, Junliangcheng, Hujiayuan stations open, so all 14 stations that have been constructed are open.
* 2006 March 28 - At 11 o'clock am, the trains begin automatic train operation; the total travel time from Zhongshanmen to Donghailu decreases from 49 min to 47.5 min.
* 2006 May 1 - Extends open time to 06:30 - 21:00.

Stations

* 中心广场 "Zhongxinguangchang" (to be constructed)
* 天津站 "Tianjinzhan" (to be constructed)
* 七经路 "Qijinglu" (to be constructed)
* 十一经路 "Shiyijinglu" (to be constructed)
* 大直沽西路 "Dazhiguxilu" (to be constructed)
* 东兴路 "Dongxinglu" (to be constructed)
* 中山门 Zhongshanmen
* 一号桥 Yihaoqiao
* 二号桥 Erhaoqiao
* 张贵庄 "Zhangguizhuang" (planned)
* 新立镇 Xinlizhen
* 东丽开发区 Donglikaifaqu
* 小东庄 Xiaodongzhuang
* 军粮城 Junliangcheng
* 钢管公司 Gangguangongsi
* 中心村 "Zhongxicun" (planned)
* 八堡 "Babao" (planned)
* 胡家园 Hujiayuan
* 车站北路 "Chezhanbeilu" (planned)
* 洋货市场 (塘沽) Yanghuoshichang (renamed to Tanggu later)
* 洞庭路 (泰达) Dongtinglu (renamed to Taida later)
* 市民广场 Shiminguangchang
* 滨海大学 "Binhaidaxue" (planned)
* 会展中心 Huizhanzhongxin
* 东海路 Donghailu

External links

* [http://www.ctbmt.cn Official site]