Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2009 12:13:20 GMT
I've recently been in China for a few weeks. I was able to travel extensively on the Beijing Subway and Shanghai Metro.
The Beijing Subway has 7 lines, plus the linear motored airport express line. The oldest dates back to 1969, but 4 of the lines have opened in the last 2 years. 1 line just serves the Olympic Park. More lines are under construction. The highest frequency is 3 mins. Most lines are automated, with the newer lines using Siemens or Westinghouse signalling. The newer lines have platform edge doors. Interestingly the headwalls usually have timers which count down to the scheduled departure time. The drivers almost always departed bang on zero. The trains were usually fairly busy, however I didn't use the system during the rush hour.
Shanghai has 8 lines, the first of which opened in only 1995. More lines are under construction in time for Expo 2010. The highest frequency is 3 mins. All lines are automated, with a mix of signalling which included Ansaldo, and Alcatel/Thales. Newer stations have platform edge doors. As far as I could see the system didn't have the headwall countdown timers as on the Beijing subway, except at one terminus. The passenger information screens however count down to scheduled arrival time with the accuracy of 1 second! This was usually accurate, but was sometimes incorrect if the train had it's departure delayed from the previous station (e.g. obstructed door). If the train is delayed further up the line, the time readjusts itself periodically. The trains were usually busy as all times of the day, even at 10pm!
I experienced the worst overcrowding I have come across on any metro system on Shanghai's Line 1. I was trying to board a southbound train around 8am at Yanchang Rd. Unfortunately as every other train starts two stops later at Shanghai Railway Station, the frequency is not optimum! People literally have to push other passengers onto the train. This pushing would not be tolerated in the UK, but is tolerated in some Asian countries. As the trains were so full the dwell times were very long as the doors kept being obstructed. One train has a 180sec dwell time! I was not able to board the first train, chickened out of being shoved onto the second train, and gave the third train a miss hoping that the fourth train which had caught up with that one and would be less busy (I was wrong). I hope that when Shanghai metro get their next delivery of trains, that the frequency will be improved!
I also managed to fit in a ride on the Maglev from Shanghai Pudong Airport. Travelling at 431kph is quite an experience, and well worth the 40yuen (about 5GBP) for the 7 minute journey. Sadly China appears to have dropped plans to build an intercity Maglev network.
The Beijing Subway has 7 lines, plus the linear motored airport express line. The oldest dates back to 1969, but 4 of the lines have opened in the last 2 years. 1 line just serves the Olympic Park. More lines are under construction. The highest frequency is 3 mins. Most lines are automated, with the newer lines using Siemens or Westinghouse signalling. The newer lines have platform edge doors. Interestingly the headwalls usually have timers which count down to the scheduled departure time. The drivers almost always departed bang on zero. The trains were usually fairly busy, however I didn't use the system during the rush hour.
Shanghai has 8 lines, the first of which opened in only 1995. More lines are under construction in time for Expo 2010. The highest frequency is 3 mins. All lines are automated, with a mix of signalling which included Ansaldo, and Alcatel/Thales. Newer stations have platform edge doors. As far as I could see the system didn't have the headwall countdown timers as on the Beijing subway, except at one terminus. The passenger information screens however count down to scheduled arrival time with the accuracy of 1 second! This was usually accurate, but was sometimes incorrect if the train had it's departure delayed from the previous station (e.g. obstructed door). If the train is delayed further up the line, the time readjusts itself periodically. The trains were usually busy as all times of the day, even at 10pm!
I experienced the worst overcrowding I have come across on any metro system on Shanghai's Line 1. I was trying to board a southbound train around 8am at Yanchang Rd. Unfortunately as every other train starts two stops later at Shanghai Railway Station, the frequency is not optimum! People literally have to push other passengers onto the train. This pushing would not be tolerated in the UK, but is tolerated in some Asian countries. As the trains were so full the dwell times were very long as the doors kept being obstructed. One train has a 180sec dwell time! I was not able to board the first train, chickened out of being shoved onto the second train, and gave the third train a miss hoping that the fourth train which had caught up with that one and would be less busy (I was wrong). I hope that when Shanghai metro get their next delivery of trains, that the frequency will be improved!
I also managed to fit in a ride on the Maglev from Shanghai Pudong Airport. Travelling at 431kph is quite an experience, and well worth the 40yuen (about 5GBP) for the 7 minute journey. Sadly China appears to have dropped plans to build an intercity Maglev network.
