Changchun Rail Transit, is the

rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT) or heavy rail, commonly referred to as metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. A grade separation, grade separated rapid transit line below ground su ...

and

light rail Light rail (or light rail transit, abbreviated to LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit that uses rolling stock derived from tram technology National Conference of the Transportation Research Board while also having some features from ...

system in the city of

Changchun Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin, Jilin Province, China, on the Songliao Plain. Changchun is administered as a , comprising seven districts, one county and three county-level cities. At the 2020 census of China, Changchun ha ...

Jilin Province ) , image_skyline = Changbaishan Tianchi from western rim.jpg , image_alt = , image_caption = View of Heaven Lake , image_map = Jilin in China (+all claims hatched).svg , mapsize = 275px , map_a ...

, China. Its first line, Line 3, is the first true

line in

Mainland China "Mainland China", also referred to as "the Chinese mainland", is a Geopolitics, geopolitical term defined as the territory under direct administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the aftermath of the Chinese Civil War. In addit ...

. The system consists of three

lines and three

lines. The current total length of the network is with 123 stations. 3 sections of 3 lines are under construction.

History

Line 1

Construction of the first heavy-rail metro line, Line 1, started in 2011, and opened for service on 30 June 2017. Line 1 serves 15 stations and is long.

Line 2

Construction on the second heavy-rail metro line, Line 2, started in 2012, and opened for service on 30 August 2018. Line 2 serves 21 stations and is long.

Line 8

A new light rail line link the North Lake area, numbered Line 8, opened for service on June 30, 2018, 16 years after Line 3 opened. Line 8 is the first light rail line using the same fare with the metro system, and the first line to directly interchange with the metro system.

Fare System

On May 30, 2019, the fare systems of the original light rail system (Line 3 and Line 4) and the new metro system (Line 1, Line 2 and Line 8) were combined, and passengers can directly transfer between the original light rail system and the new metro system.

Network

Line 1

Line 1 is the first rapid transit metro line Changchun, running on the north-south central axis of Changchun. Line 1's color is red.

Line 2

Line 2 is the second metro line in Changchun, running on the east-west central axis of Changchun. Line 2's color is blue.

Line 3

Line 3 marked the inaugural rail line to commence operations in Changchun. It forms an S-shaped route encircling the city center, constituting the western segment of the

loop and extending as an outer-loop branch to the Jingyue area. This line operates with low-floor light rail vehicles rather than the conventional rapid transit rolling stock. In contrast to subsequent lines, Line 3 predominantly operates at ground level in its western section, running parallel to the Jingha railway, and primarily travels on elevated tracks in the eastern portion. Notably, the line is not entirely grade-separated, as it retains four level crossings even after undergoing several renovations. Line 3's color is green.

Line 4

Line 4 is another light rail line. Unlike line 3, it has complete grade separation, but still uses the same low-floor light rail vehicles as line 3, similar to the Seville Metro in Spain. It runs in a north-south direction, close to the Yitong river, making up the east half of light rail loop. The line runs mostly on elevated viaducts with an underground section in the north. Line 4's color is purple.

Line 6

Line 6 is a new metro line that commenced operations in 2024, traversing the South New Area of Changchun. This line connects Changchun West Railway Station with the Jingyue district, following a route along the southern corridor of Line 3 to alleviate passenger congestion on that line. Line 6's color is pink.

Line 8

Line 8 is a light rail line, operating in the northern region to connect the North Lake area with the heart of Changchun, which includes a link to Line 1. Similar to Line 4, Line 8 is entirely grade-separated and utilizes low-floor light rail vehicles. However, it differs in that it operates entirely on elevated tracks as opposed to running partially underground. Line 8's color is teal.

Opening timeline

* 30 October 2002: Changchun Railway Station - Weiguang Street * 26 December 2006: Weixing Square - Changchun Movie Wonderland * 3 April 2007: Weiguang Street - Weixing Square * 30 June 2011: Dongdaqiao Bridge - Tiangong Road * 6 May 2012: Changchun Railway Station (North) - Dongdaqiao Bridge * 17 December 2012: Gongping Road Station * 30 June 2017: North Ring Road - Hongzuizi * 30 August 2018: Shuangfeng - Dongfang Square * 30 October 2018: North Ring Road - Guangtong Road * 8 October 2021: Auto Park - Shuangfeng * 31 December 2021: Changchun Railway Station - Puppet Regime Palace Museum * 6 June 2023: Tiangong Road - Tianxin Road * 31 December 2023: Dongxin Road Station * 28 March 2024: Shuangfeng - Changchun Movie Wonderland.

Future development

The Phase 3 (2019-2024) expansion of Changchun Rail Transit was approved by the NDRC on November 30, 2018. According to the plan, Changchun Rail Transit will be in length in 2024.

Under construction

* 2025: (Eastern extension): with 6 stations. * 2025: (Phase 1): with 19 stations. Changchun International Automobile Park – East Ring Road. Heavy rail. * June 2025: (Airport line): ( underground, elevated) with 8 stations. Zhaojiagang East – Jiutai South railway station. Heavy rail. *2027: (Phase 1): with 18 stations. Southwestern Hub – Dongdaqiao Bridge. Heavy rail.

Planned

* (Southern extension): with 2 stations. Changchun Movie Wonderland – Changchun No.59 Middle School. Light rail.

References

External links

Changchun Railway Traffic Group
{{Rapid transit in Asia Changchun Rail Transit Transport in Changchun 2002 establishments in China Railway lines opened in 2002 750 V DC railway electrification 1500 V DC railway electrification

History

Line 1

Line 2

Line 8

Fare System

Network

Line 1

Line 2

Line 3

Line 4

Line 6

Line 8

Opening timeline

Future development

Under construction

Planned

See also

Other Transport in Changchun

References

External links