People's Republic of China

Operating Lines

Anshan
Beijing
Changchun
Chongqing
Dalian
Guangzhou
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Tianjin
Wuhan

Planned or Under Construction

Chengdu
Harbin
Hangzhou
Kunming
Macao
Nanjing
Qingdao
Shenyang
Shenzhen
Suzhou
Weihai
Wuxi
Xi'an
Zhengzhou

Photo courtesy Osamu Abe
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Tianjin (Tienstin)
subway, tram

Subway

Three hours from Beijing, Tianjin is known as Beijing's port. Construction of the 8 station, 7.4 km Tianjin metro began in 1970 and was completed in 1984. The current section is all underground. Revenue service on the first section began in 1980. The line runs between 2 and three meters from the street surface, using in part an old canal bed. The line was built, in part, by volunteers.

Construction was delayed in 1976 when an earthquake hit the city.



Line 1 was expanded to 26 km in 2005, with 14 stations. One station and 1.5 km of the line is above ground. Seven lines in all are planned, with a total of 227 km. A 29.7 km Line 3 is expected to be completed in 2009. It will be completely underground except for a 6.9 k flyover.

In June 2005, Tianjin's new subway, the Binhai Light Railway, also known as the Jinbin light rail, or as Line 9, opened for service.  The 45 km 19 station surface metro is under expansion which includes a 6,67 km underground section. It is currently the longest rapid transit line in China, and the fastest, traveling across 4 massive bridges to the sea at 100 kph.


In 2007, Tianjin opened a 7.86 km modern tramway, what would be called light rail in the west. It uses the Translohr system that makes it similar to a guided busway. The system is famous for its derailment problems, which might be why we can find no information on expansion projects for thr tram. It is also run by Binhai Rapid Transit,

Project plan details
Light Rail Binhai Mass Transit Site
Official Home Page
Brief Youtube ride