Xi'an Subway
Encyclopedia
The Xi'an Metro or Xi'an Subway is a metro
system in the city of Xi'an
, the capital of Shaanxi
province in China
. Xi'an began its metro
system plan in the mid-1980s. The Plan was first submitted to the State Council
in 1994, with 4 lines planned, with a total 73.17 km. In Feb 2004, the re-drafted Plan was submitted to the State Government, which received a final approval on September 13, 2006.
Line 2 began construction on 29 September 2006, and Line 1 started on October 30, 2008. Four other routes are also planned to start in 2011 and finish around 2020. When completed, the total system will span 251.8 km (156.5 mi); will mainly service the urban and suburban districts of Xi'an municipality, and part of Xianyang City.
The first line, Line 2, opened to the public on September 16, 2011..
and city wall
. It is planned to be 26.6 km long with 23.5 km lying underground, approximately 20 meters below the surface. It is estimated to cost 17.9 billion Yuan (US$2.24 billion). The route will stretch from the Xi'an North Railway Station
(recently completed) to Weiqu South with 20 stops in between. The travel time will only be 39 minutes for the entire length, cutting the commute almost in half. Operations will start on 28 September 2011.
To accelerate the speed of overall economic development between Xi'an and Xianyang
cities, the Transportation Department of Xi'an has decided to extend Line 1 to promote business travel between the two cities, as well as improve the efficiency of land usage alongside Line One. The preparation phase for the extension of Xi'an's Line 1 had started with the compilation of a feasibility study
on November 4, 2007. This extension project (or Phase II of Line 1) will start in 2011, with a scheduled completion in 2013.
On 26 May 2009, an individual suffered minor injuries from a fire during infrastructure work on line 1.
On 30 December 2008, a fire accident occurred that was later extinguished within an hour and all workers evacuated safely. Sixty six hours later, on 2 January, another fire occurred at another station on line 2.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system in the city of Xi'an
Xi'an
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty...
, the capital of Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
province in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Xi'an began its metro
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system plan in the mid-1980s. The Plan was first submitted to the State Council
State Council of the People's Republic of China
The State Council of the People's Republic of China , which is largely synonymous with the Central People's Government after 1954, is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency...
in 1994, with 4 lines planned, with a total 73.17 km. In Feb 2004, the re-drafted Plan was submitted to the State Government, which received a final approval on September 13, 2006.
Line 2 began construction on 29 September 2006, and Line 1 started on October 30, 2008. Four other routes are also planned to start in 2011 and finish around 2020. When completed, the total system will span 251.8 km (156.5 mi); will mainly service the urban and suburban districts of Xi'an municipality, and part of Xianyang City.
The first line, Line 2, opened to the public on September 16, 2011..
History
The first line, Line 2, began construction along Chang An street on 29 September 2006, and was completed in 2011. It will run north-south and pass under such historic sites as the Bell TowerBell Tower of Xi'an
The Bell Tower of Xi'an , built in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty, is a symbol of the city of Xi'an and one of the grandest of its kind in China. The Bell Tower also contains several large bronze-cast bells from the Tang Dynasty. The tower base is square and it covers an area of 1,377 square...
and city wall
City wall of Xi'an
The fortifications of Xi'an, which is an ancient capital of China, represent one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. Construction of the first city wall of Chang'an began in 194 BCE and lasted for four years. That wall measured 25.7 km in length, 12–16 m in thickness at the...
. It is planned to be 26.6 km long with 23.5 km lying underground, approximately 20 meters below the surface. It is estimated to cost 17.9 billion Yuan (US$2.24 billion). The route will stretch from the Xi'an North Railway Station
Xi'an North Railway Station
The Xi'an North Railway Station is a railway station of Zhengxi Passenger Railway and Xibao Passenger Railway. The station located in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The station has 34 platforms. It is the largest train station in Northwest China.-History:...
(recently completed) to Weiqu South with 20 stops in between. The travel time will only be 39 minutes for the entire length, cutting the commute almost in half. Operations will start on 28 September 2011.
Stations
- BeikezhanXi'an North Railway StationThe Xi'an North Railway Station is a railway station of Zhengxi Passenger Railway and Xibao Passenger Railway. The station located in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. The station has 34 platforms. It is the largest train station in Northwest China.-History:...
(北客站) - Beiyuan (北苑)
- Yundong Gongyuan (运动公园)
- Xingzheng Zhongxin (行政中心)
- Fengcheng Wulu (凤城五路)
- Xi'an Library (图书馆)
- Daminggong West (大明宫西)
- Longshouyuan (龙首原)
- Anyuanmen (安远门)
- Bei Dajie (北大街)
- ZhonglouBell Tower of Xi'anThe Bell Tower of Xi'an , built in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty, is a symbol of the city of Xi'an and one of the grandest of its kind in China. The Bell Tower also contains several large bronze-cast bells from the Tang Dynasty. The tower base is square and it covers an area of 1,377 square...
(钟楼) - Yongningmen (永宁门)
- Nanshaomen (南梢门)
- Tiyuchang (体育场)
- Xiaozhai (小寨)
- Weiyi Jie (纬一街)
- Huizhan Zhongxin (会展中心)
Line 1
Construction of the 2nd route - Line 1, was scheduled to start in later-2009, but brought one year earlier as per Chinese Government's response to the Financial crisis of 2007–2010. It is scheduled to complete by 2013. The route will run from east to west.To accelerate the speed of overall economic development between Xi'an and Xianyang
Xianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
cities, the Transportation Department of Xi'an has decided to extend Line 1 to promote business travel between the two cities, as well as improve the efficiency of land usage alongside Line One. The preparation phase for the extension of Xi'an's Line 1 had started with the compilation of a feasibility study
Feasibility study
Feasibility studies aim to objectively and rationally uncover the strengths and weaknesses of the existing business or proposed venture, opportunities and threats as presented by the environment, the resources required to carry through, and ultimately the prospects for success. In its simplest...
on November 4, 2007. This extension project (or Phase II of Line 1) will start in 2011, with a scheduled completion in 2013.
Line 3
Construction of Xi'an Metro's Line 3 broke ground in May 2011 and is set to finish in 2015. The line will be 50.5 km (31.4 mi) long and 31 stations are planned.Development
Other metro lines, including Line Four, Line Five, and Line Six will start construction after 2020, according to the plan.Accidents
On 2 August 2009, 9:20am, a cave-in at the Sajinqiao section of line one trapped migrant workers under 10 cubic meters of earth for over three hours, killing at least two who later died in the hospital.On 26 May 2009, an individual suffered minor injuries from a fire during infrastructure work on line 1.
On 30 December 2008, a fire accident occurred that was later extinguished within an hour and all workers evacuated safely. Sixty six hours later, on 2 January, another fire occurred at another station on line 2.