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The Shanghai Metro (上海轨道交通) is an urban Rapid Transit system that serves the city of Shanghai by transporting over 1.3 million passengers each day. The system incorporates both subways (地铁) and elevated railways (轻轨). As new metro lines are opened, passenger volumes are expected to rise significantly. It is the third city in China to build a subway system after Beijing and Tianjin and as of 2006 operates more lines than any other subway system in China (excluding Hong Kong ). Currently it is one of the world's youngest and most rapidly expanding subway system which operates 5 lines with 4 more lines under construction including other extensions to the five lines currently in operation. LINES
Interchange The following are interchange stations: Xinzhuang between Line 1 and ''' Line 5 ''' Shanghai South Railway Station between Line 1 and ''' Line 3 ''' Shanghai Indoor Stadium between Line 1 and ''' Line 4 ''' People's Square between Line 1 and ''' Line 2 ''' Zhongshan Park among Line 2 ,''' Line 3 ''' and ''' Line 4 ''' Hongqiao Road, Yan'an Road (West), Jinshajiang Road, Zhenping Road, Zhongtan Road, Shanghai Railway Station, Baoshan Road are shared between Line 3 and ''' Line 4 ''' (These eight stops plus Zhongshan Park are stops for both Line 3 and Line 4 on an elevated rail, so if your journey is within these stops, you can take any train that comes along) Dongfang Road is being constructed into an interchange stop between Line 2 and ''' Line 4 ''' when it is available. Though Yishan Rd. of Line 3 and Line 4 share a name, they are not one stop and interchanging is not yet possible. Shanghai Railway Station of Line 1 is shown as interchange with the station of the same name on Line 3 and 4, but you must exit the pay area and re-enter the Line 3 and 4 pay area and vice-versa. Transfer options: The Shanghai Metro Co, Ltd. states that "interchange" is a "free transfer", but a "transfer" is a "non-free transfer". Free interchanging already exists between all lines, though not at all points. TICKET SYSTEM Like many metro systems in the world, the fares on the Shanghai Subway are distance based. As of September 15, 2005, when the Shanghai government raised them, fares ranged from 3 yuan (approx USD $0.375) for journeys under 6km, to 8 yuan for journeys over 46km. As of December 25, 2005, Shanghai uses a "one ticket network", which means free interchange between all lines without purchase of another ticket. Fares (1) For most lines, the base fare is 3 Yuan for journeys under 6km, then 1 yuan for each additional 10 km. Since the longest possible journey is 50 km long, the highest fare is 8 yuan. (2) For journeys exclusively on Line 5 (From Xinzhuang To Minhang Development Zone), the fare is 2 yuan for journeys under 6 km and all other journeys are 3 yuan (the total length of this line being 16 km). Single tickets Single journey tickets can be purchased from the ticket vending machine or at a ticket window. The new stations on Line 4 only uses ticket vending machines. The ticket vending machine accepts coins and bills. Transit Card Apart from the single ticket, payment for the journey can be made by buying a Shanghai Public Transportation Card . This contactless card can be bought for a refundable fee of 30 yuan at convenience stores and metro stations. There are also special edition cards for a non-refundable 20 yuan. Only some stations can refund the card fee ( Jiangsu Rd on Line 2 for example). This card can be recharged at ticket booths situated at the metro stations as well as many small convenience shops throughout the city. The Shanghai Public Transportation Card can also be used to pay for other forms of transportation, such as taxi or bus. This transit card is similar to the Chicago Card of the CTA , the SmarTrip of the Washington Metro , and the Octopus Card of Hong Kong's MTR . STATIONS OF NOTE The busiest station in the Shanghai metro system is People's Square station ( Line 1 ,''' Line 2 '''). As the transfer station for the north-south Line 1 and the east-west ''' Line 2 ''', it is extremely crowded during peak hours. It remains busy during the rest of the day, as it is located near major shopping and tourist destinations such as East Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, The Shanghai Museum, People's Park, the Shanghai Grand Theatre and Yan'an Greens. Xujiahui station ( Line 1 ) is located in the major Xujiahui commercial center of Shanghai. Six large Shopping Mall s and eight large office towers are each within a three-minute walk of one of the station's fourteen exits, the largest number of exits of any Shanghai Subway station. Lujiazui station ( Line 2 ) is the major stop in Pudong area. It is situated in the heart of Lujiazui financial district, the developing financial center of Shanghai. The city's new symbol, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower , is within walking distance of the station, as is the Jin Mao Tower , the tallest building in mainland China. Compared to Xujiahui and People's Square, Lujiazui is not particularly busy during off-peak hours or at weekends as it is used primarily by those who commute to the district for work. Shanghai Railway Station ( Line 1 ,''' Line 3 ''' and ''' Line 4 ''') is a major transportation hub in Shanghai, containing the railway station, two subway lines and the stop for many city bus lines as well as interprovincial buses. These bus lines will soon be housed in a brand new bus station currently under construction behind the train station. RETAIL Nearly every Shanghai subway station houses Retail ing of some kind. Many are small kiosks selling a variety of Telephony products such as telephone calling cards, Mobile Phone SIM cards, or new Telephone s. There are also newsstands, with some stations having as many as three competing vendors. Snack shops (cafes) have become popular, along with bookstores. In some, however, the retail section would appear to dominate the station concourse. The Xujiahui station houses three restaurants, a sushi establishment, a salon, a shoe store, a bookstore, a teahouse, an art dealer, more than twenty trinket shops no larger than 2 m&2 each and a 500 meter long underground shopping arcade with dozens of stores, mostly selling women's and girls' clothing and shoes. The result can be disorientating for casual visitors attempting to access the platforms. The only other stations with such a shopping selection are Shanghai Railway station (in the transfer corridor) and the Milan Plaza arcade in Zhongshan Park station. TECHNOLOGY In contrast to many other metro systems in the world, the Shanghai metro uses Overhead Wires for the power supply, probably due to its use of a 1500 volt system which is twice the voltage generally used for Third Rail s. Standard gauge is used throughout the network, allowing new metro equipment to be transported over the Chinese rail network which uses the same gauge. Plasma screens on the platforms show passengers when the next two trains are coming (usually one every five minutes or less). The subway cars contain LCD screens showing advertisements and the next stop, while above-ground trains have LED screens showing the next stop. There are recorded messages stating the next stop in Mandarin and English, but the messages stating nearby attractions/shops for a given stop (a form of paid advertising) are in Mandarin only. Accessibility facilities for the disabled are available at all stations. Sliding plexiglass safety doors exist on platforms on the newest Line 4. These open as the train approaches and remain closed at other times. These screens are beginning to be retrofitted on existing lines. Cars used by the Metro system:
OPERATORS Two companies operate the Shanghai Metro network.
FUTURE Several lines are either under construction or planned to be constructed in the near or distant future. After the completion of these lines, a uniform numbering system will be put in place. Under construction
Planned Lines
Planned unified numbering system Due to the inconsistency in naming of early lines, plans are underway to rename all lines in a unified system:
R line means it is a subway line that connects the CBD to a suburb. M line means it is a subway line that runs within the CBD only. L line means it is a surface light railway line. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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