[ COMPANY ] MAIN TOPIC PRODUCT METROS IN CHINA DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL FEATURES IN RAIL POWER SUPPLY English Translation of eb – Elektrische Bahnen, Issue 1/2020 Authors: Ralf Klinge, Offenbach/Main (DE), Bai Xuelian, Beijing (CN), Wang Kuizhong, Tianjin (CN) Expertise Traction Power Supply Traction Power Supply Expertise Table 1 Metros in China - Development and Cities in China with metro systems (end of 2018) [5] technical features in rail power supply No. City Network length km 1 Beijing 617 Ralf Klinge, Offenbach am Main (DE); Bai Xuelian, Beijing (CN); Wang Kuizhong, Tianjin (CN) 2 Changsha 49 3 Changzhun 39 The implementation of the economic reform program created the prerequisites for starting and 4 Chengdu 222 consistently implementing a comprehensive expansion program for railways and local public trans- 5 Chongqing 215 port. The metro systems in China have special technical and operational features that differ from systems in Europe, for example. 6 Dalian 54 7 Dongguan 38 Metros in China - Entwicklung und Besonderheiten in der Bahnenergieversorgung 8 Foshan 22 Durch die Umsetzung des wirtschaftlichen Reformprogramms wurden die Vorraussetzungen ge- 9 Fuzhou 25 schaffen, ein umfangreiches Ausbauprogramm der Eisenbahn und des öffentlichen Personennah- 10 Guiyang 34 verkehrs zu beginnen und konsequent abzuwickeln. Die Metrosysteme in China weisen technische 11 Hangzhou 115 und betriebliche Besonderheiten auf, die sich von Systemen beispielsweise in Europa unterscheiden. Figure 2: 12 Harbin 22 Vehicles of the metro line to Capital Airport Métros en Chine - Développement et particularités de l‘alimentation ferroviaire en énergie 13 Hefei 52 La mise en œuvre du programme de réforme économique a permis de créer les conditions néces- 14 Canton (Guangzhou) 452 saires pour le démarrage et la réalisation d’un vaste programme d’expansion des chemins de fer et 15 Kunming 89 that there are 1 407 km of light rail, trams and spe- des transports publics locaux. Les systèmes de métro en Chine ont des caractéristiques techniques et cial railways. This does not take other electrical 16 Nanchang 49 opérationnelles particulières les distinguant, à titre d’exemple, des systèmes européens. means of transport into account. Table 1 contains an 17 Nanjing 177 overview of the metro networks in China, which is 18 Nanning 53 illustrated in Figure 1. 19 Ningbo 75 The three largest metro networks in China are 1 Introduction port networks in a short period of time and to up- 20 Qingdao 45 currently: grade them to the latest technology. 21 Shanghai 670 • Shanghai, with a network length of 670 km and In the early 1980s, the People’s Republic of China For example, the first high-speed, long-distance 15 lines 22 Shenjang 59 began to implement its programme of economic re- railway line – the route between Beijing and Tianjin • Beijing, with a network length of 617 km and 21 23 Shenzhen 286 forms, which also included opening up to the out- – was opened on 1 August 2008. The route covers a lines (Figure 2) side world. As part of this programme, major efforts distance of over 100 km. By the end of 2018, i.e. just 24 Shijiazhuang 28 • Guangzhou/Canton, with a network length of were made to expand local and long-distance trans- ten years later, the total length of the Chinese high- 25 Suzhou 121 452 km and 12 lines. speed network was about 29 000 km. This accounts 26 Tianjin 167 for around two thirds of the world’s total high-speed 27 Urumqi 17 The metro in Beijing is currently also one of the bus- rail network [1, 2]. iest local transport systems in the world: it handles 28 Wuhan 264 The trend in local public transport is similar. Local 3,85 billion passenger journeys each year, amount- 29 Wuxi 56 rail transport systems in China are divided into: ing to around 10 million passengers a day. The cur- 1. Metro systems, 30 Xiamen 30 rent daily record was set on 12 July 2019, when 13,8 Harbin 2. Light rail and tram systems and 31 Xian 123 million passenger journeys were recorded. Overall, Changzhun 3. Special railways. 32 Zhengzhou 94 of the world’s 15 most-used local transport systems, Urumqi Shenjang eight are in China. Hohhot Beijing The special railways include the Translohr system in To illustrate the figures involved, it is helpful to Tianjin Dalian Tianjin [3], various magnetic levitation systems • Line 1 of Tianjin Metro with a 5,2 km network compare the networks sizes of the metro systems in Shijiazhuang Lanzhou Qingdao (Maglev) and automatic transport systems, known as length, opened in 1980 London (London Underground), with a current net- Zhengshou Jinan Xian Automated People Movers (APM). • Line 2 of Beijing Metro with a 16,1 km network work length of 402 km, and New York, with 380 km, Nanjing Changzhou Wuxi In addition to these, there are numerous trolley- length, opened in 1984 which until relatively recently were the largest net- Wuhan Hefei Shanghai Chengdu Suzhou Chongqing Hangzhou bus operations, wireless battery buses and, since late works in the world. Passenger figures for London are Ningbo Nanchang 2019, a system similar to a light rail in which vehicles These three lines have since been expanded to 4,8 million journeys per day, or around 1,8 billion Changsa Fuzhou Guiyang Xiamen travel without a contact line on asphalted roads and lengths of 31 km, 42 km and 23 km. per year. Kunming Dongguan Nanning Kanton with normal rubber tyres [4]. The next line was not opened until 1993, in This means that, as with China’s long-distance Foshan Shenzhen Up until 1990, there were only three metro lines Shanghai, with a length of 6,6 km. transport sector, the short-distance transport sector in the whole of mainland China – that is, not includ- Just 25 years later – that is, by the end of 2018 – is the largest market for rail in the world, by a long ing Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. These were: the total length of all rail-bound local transport sys- way. Figure 1: Cities in China with metro systems (mainland, not including Hong Kong, • Line 1 of Beijing Metro with a 10,7 km network tems in mainland China added up to 5 761 km. Of Macau and Taiwan (figures and photos: RPS, authors) length, opened in 1969 these, 4 354 km are in metro systems, which have red – as of late 2018, blue – start-up in 2019 since been established in 32 cities [5]. This means 2 Reprint (Translation) of eb – Elektrische Bahnen 118 (2020) Issue 1 Reprint (Translation) of eb – Elektrische Bahnen 118 (2020) Issue 1 3 Traction Power Supply Expertise Table 1 Cities in China with metro systems (end of 2018) [5] No. City Network length km 1 Beijing 617 2 Changsha 49 3 Changzhun 39 4 Chengdu 222 5 Chongqing 215 6 Dalian 54 7 Dongguan 38 8 Foshan 22 9 Fuzhou 25 10 Guiyang 34 11 Hangzhou 115 Figure 2: 12 Harbin 22 Vehicles of the metro line to Capital Airport 13 Hefei 52 14 Canton (Guangzhou) 452 15 Kunming 89 that there are 1 407 km of light rail, trams and spe- cial railways. This does not take other electrical 16 Nanchang 49 means of transport into account. Table 1 contains an 17 Nanjing 177 overview of the metro networks in China, which is 18 Nanning 53 illustrated in Figure 1. 19 Ningbo 75 The three largest metro networks in China are 20 Qingdao 45 currently: 21 Shanghai 670 • Shanghai, with a network length of 670 km and 15 lines 22 Shenjang 59 • Beijing, with a network length of 617 km and 21 23 Shenzhen 286 lines (Figure 2) 24 Shijiazhuang 28 • Guangzhou/Canton, with a network length of 25 Suzhou 121 452 km and 12 lines. 26 Tianjin 167 27 Urumqi 17 The metro in Beijing is currently also one of the bus- iest local transport systems in the world: it handles 28 Wuhan 264 3,85 billion passenger journeys each year, amount- 29 Wuxi 56 ing to around 10 million passengers a day. The cur- 30 Xiamen 30 rent daily record was set on 12 July 2019, when 13,8 31 Xian 123 million passenger journeys were recorded. Overall, 32 Zhengzhou 94 of the world’s 15 most-used local transport systems, eight are in China. To illustrate the figures involved, it is helpful to • Line 1 of Tianjin Metro with a 5,2 km network compare the networks sizes of the metro systems in length, opened in 1980 London (London Underground), with a current net- • Line 2 of Beijing Metro with a 16,1 km network work length of 402 km, and New York, with 380 km, length, opened in 1984 which until relatively recently were the largest net- works in the world. Passenger figures for London are These three lines have since been expanded to 4,8 million journeys per day, or around 1,8 billion lengths of 31 km, 42 km and 23 km. per year. The next line was not opened until 1993, in This means that, as with China’s long-distance Shanghai, with a length of 6,6 km. transport sector, the short-distance transport sector Just 25 years later – that is, by the end of 2018 – is the largest market for rail in the world, by a long the total length of all rail-bound local transport sys- way. tems in mainland China added up to 5 761 km. Of these, 4 354 km are in metro systems, which have since been established in 32 cities [5]. This means Reprint (Translation) of eb – Elektrische Bahnen 118 (2020) Issue 1 3 Expertise Traction Power Supply Traction Power Supply Expertise 2 Basic principles of • DC switchgear with main busbar and with or cludes fully equipped switching trucks with DC fast Table 2: railway energy supply without bypass busbar breakers that can be replaced directly by local per- Overview of Beijing Metro lines, only metro/DC • Contact line switchgear that enables shutdown sonnel when necessary.