Chengdu Metro Project, China

China is midway through a highly ambitious project to build an all-new metro system in its tenth largest city, Chengdu. Railway projects – high-speed, light rail and metro – are a high priority to the country which is particularly keen to exploit the mass transit capacities of metro networks to reduce huge congestion and pollution issues that exist within many major population centres.

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province of Western China, an important commercial centre with a population of 11 million. It lies 1,500 miles west of China's eastern seaboard and has heavy rail connections to 12 major cities in China, including the capital Beijing.

The city became the central city of West China in 1993, and the metro project was incorporated into infrastructure planning by the local government in 2001, with the combined aim of upgrading urban infrastructure and improving the standard of living.

THE PROJECT

Construction of the Chengdu metro began in December 2005, with the target of opening Line 1 for trial operations in 2010. In total, five lines form the first phase of development covering 126km (78.75 miles) with 116 stations – 11 of which will be interchanges between routes.

The network is being designed to cope with massive passenger demand. By 2020, it is expected to carry 13.1 million passengers every day, and by 2035 14.1 million.

To date only Line 1 of the system has been planned in specific detail. It is costing US$783m and will be 15.1km (9.4 miles), running from a station at Honghuayan to Shiji Square.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The umbrella project is the establishment of seven new metro lines over the next three decades, although initially five have been devised, all radiating from the city centre.

Line 1 has been approved by the State Development Planning Commission, and divided into two sections. Phase 1 will see 15.1km of new line laid between stations at Honghuayan and Shiji Square at an estimated cost of US$783m.

When eventually complete at 26.7km (16.7 miles), Line 1 will comprise 11.76km of underground running and 14.94km of ground level and elevated trackbed, with a total of 18 stations. Also in the budget is a depot at Huayang, two main sub-stations, ten traction substations and one control centre. Line 1 will also have an interchange with Chengdu's north and south railway stations.

A minimum curve radius of 400m will be employed where possible, although certain restricted sections will have 300m radius curves. The maximum gradient will be 35% and rail will be laid to standard 1,435mm gauge using 60kg/m rail, allowing a maximum operational speed of 80km/h (50mph). The power supply will be 750V DC with third rail collection and running rail return.

The start and finish points of the remaining four lines in the programme have already been decided:

• Line 2 will start in the east at Honghe Downtown District and end in the west section of the Third Ring Road at the Chegdu-Dujiangyan bus station
• Line 3 starts in the north-west Liujiian district and heads south east to the Liulichang district
• Line 4 begins at Chengdu-Nanchong Southwest bus station and ends in the Zhuzigiao District in the east of the city
• Line 5 starts at West Chengdu-Yaan Expressway and ends at Chengdu University in the east

ROLLING STOCK

In common with other modern metro systems in China, the Chengdu network is destined to receive Type B rolling stock from a Chinese builder – possibly the Changchun Car Company.

The specification calls for cars 2.8m wide and 19m long, formed into three-car sets and later to be expanded five-car trains. The average train speed during each journey will be 35km/h, although the maximum speed will be 80km/h (50mph).

The trains will feature air-conditioning and have capacity for 1,200 passengers in each three-car train. A fleet of 22 formations is expected to enter traffic at the opening of Line 1.

SIGNALLING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Chengdu Metro will be a highly sophisticated network, equipped with Automatic Train Control, Automatic Train Protection, Automatic Train Stop and Automatic Train Operation. In addition to the on-train/track systems, fire alarm and automatic fare collection systems will also be installed.

THE FUTURE

The Chengdu project will become the sixth metro in China, following the pioneer Beijing and the cities of Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Shenzhen.

It is aimed at aiding the redevelopment of central Chengdu by turning the centre over to commercial trade and finance industries, encouraging the old residential areas to relocate in due course.

The anticipated passenger loadings are extremely high and take into account the massive population growth taking place across the region.