Recent and upcoming openings to extend Changchun metro network by a third

CHINA: The opening of metro Line 7 in Changchun on August 26 is to be followed by Line 5 next month, with two more additions expected by the end of the year.

Changchun’s 23.2 km metro Line 7 opened on August 26. The fully underground line links Qiche Gongyuan in the west to Donghuanchenglu in the northeast, serving 19 stations, including eight interchanges to other lines.

Line 7 offers a 6 min peak interval, growing to 7 min 30 sec during off-peak times. Services are worked by 20 six-car B2-type trainsets, capable of 80 km/h. They were built locally by CRRC Changchun.

Meanwhile, another three extensions to the network are expected to open by the end of the year. The 19.7 km Line 5 is already in test operation, and it is scheduled to open in October.

It is due to be followed by the southbound extensions to lines 1 and 3 with a combined length of 7.6 km. These additions are scheduled to add a combined 50.5 km to the metro, equivalent to a third of the size of the current network. The total route coverage was 151.4 km in July and should reach 201.9 km by the end of the year.

• Read a feature article about the growing metro, suburban rail, and high speed rail networks across China in the October issue of Railway Gazette International.