Shanghai Metro Subway Transport System - Essay Example

Shanghai Metro Subway Transport System Subway is the most convenient, speed, comfortable and safe means of transportation for travelling around Shanghai. The main centers around Shanghai can be reached using various subway lines. The main centers include the peoples Square, Commercial hubs like Bund, Shanghai railway station, Nanjing Road and Xujiahui can be accessed through the several subway lines. Additionally, the city of Shanghai has 14 subway lines that are operational and cover a distance of 525.2 kilometers and this distance excludes intersections like the Maglev that intersects between lines three and four (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Moreover, the total distance Shanghai that is covered by the metro system is 6341 square kilometers and serves about 18.88 million people who live in the city (Chinatoday.com, n.d). The population in this city is not comparable to the rest of the world as it is the most populated city (WPR, 2014). It is located in the Eastern part of China and sits on the mouth of Yangtze River (WPR, 2014). Currently, the population of Shanghai is estimated to be over 23 million people (WPR, 2014). The other interesting thing is one demographic of the city. According to the 2010 Census, 89.3% of the population lived in the urban centers while 10.7% lived in the rural areas (WPR, 2014). Furthermore, more than 39% of the populace who live in Shanghai are migrants that have stayed in the city for a long period (WPR, 2014). The number of migrants has tripled since 2010 census. Eighty percent of the migrants in Shanghai come from the rural areas; 29% come from Anhui, 16.8% from Jiangsu, 8.7% from Henan and finally 7% from Sichuan (WPR, 2014). Additionally, like in many other cities in China, the largest percentage of the residents is of Han Chinese origin and only 1.2% belongs to the minority groups (WPR, 2014). However, the number of minorities has increased steadily. The increase has been by 165% since the year 2000, which is more than the normal population growth. Shanghai has about 150,000 registered foreigners whereby 31,500 belong to the Japanese origin; 20,700 are Koreans, and 21, 000 Americans (WPR, 2014). The city also has the highest life expectancy in the world and in China (WPR, 2014). In the city, adults live up to 82.13 years. The subway in the city depicts an excellent system. Shanghai subway Transit system consist of 16 lines. Line 1 consists of 23.4 miles equivalent to 37.88 kilometers (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). The station number is 58. The stations in this line include Xinzhuang, Waihuan Rd, Lianhua Rd, Jinjiang Park, South Railway Station, Caobao Rd, Indoor Stadium, Xujiahui, and Hengshan Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations include Changshu Rd, South Shanxi Rd, South Huangpi Rd, Peoples Square, Xinzha Rd, Hanzhong Rd, Shanghai Railway Station, North Zhongshan Rd, Circus, World, Wenshui Rd, Pengpu Xincum, Gongkang Rd, Tonghe Xincun, Hulan Rd, Gonfu Xincum, Baoan Highway, West Youyi Rd, and Fujin Rd. Shanghai subway has got 16 lines that are operated by different companies. Different colors and station numbers differentiate the lines. Line 2 also has a different length of coverage. In line 2, the total length is 60km, and the station number is 30. The length starts from East Xujing, Guanglan Rd to Pudong Airport (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). The stations along this line include East Xujing, Hongqiao Railway Station, Hongqiao Airport T2, Songhong Rd, Beixinjing, Weining Rd, Loushanguan Rd, Zhongshan park, and Jiangus Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations include Jingan Temple, West Nanjing Rd, Peoples Square, East Nanjing Rd, Lujiazui, lujiazui, Dongchang Rd, Century Avenue, science and Technology Museum, Century park, Longyang Rd, Zhangjiang High Technology park, Jinke Rd, Guanglan Rd, East Extension Guanglan Rd, Tangzhen, Middle Chuangxin Rd, East Huaxia Rd, Chuansha, Lingkong Rd, Far East Avenue, Haitian 3rd Rd, Pudong Airport (Chinatoday.com, n.d). Additionally, there is Line 3. The line starts from South Railway Station to North Jiangyang Road (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Its identification colour is Yellow and has a total length of 24.97 kilometers. It has 29 stations. The stations in between include South Railway Station , Shilong Rd, Longcao Rd, Caoxi Rd, Yishan Rd, Hongqiao Rd, West Yan'an Rd, Zhongshan Park , Jinshajiang Rd, Caoyang Rd, Zhenping Rd, Zhongtan Rd, Shanghai Railway Station ,Baoshan Rd, Dongbaoxing Rd, and Hongkou Football Stadium (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations include Chifeng Rd, Dabaishu, Jiangwan Town,West Yingao Rd, South Changjiang Rd,Songfa Rd, Zhanghuabang ,Songbin Rd, Shuichan Rd,Baoyang Rd, Youyi Rd, Tieli Rd, North Jiangyang Rd (Chinatoday.com, n.d). Line 4 has a length of 33.6 kilometers. The line is identifies using deep purple. Station number is 26 and runs from Yishan Rd, Century Avenue, Shanghai Railway Station, Zhongshan Park, Yishan Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). The Stations in between include Yishan Rd, Indoor Stadium, Shanghai Stadium, Dongán Rd, Damuqiao Rd, Luban Rd, South Xizang Rd, Nanpu Bridge, Tangqiao, Lancun Rd, Pudian Rd, and Century Avenue (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations include Pudong Avenue, Lancun, Yangshupu Rd, Dalian Rd, Linping Rd, Hailun Rd, Baoshan Rd, Shanghai Railway Station (North Square), Zhongtan Rd, Zhenping Rd, Caoyang Rd, Jinshajiang Rd, Zhongshan Park , West Yan'an Rd, Hongqiao Rd, Yishan Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line five runs from Xinzhuang to the Development Zone and its identification colour is purple. It has a total length of 17.2 kilometers, and its station number is 11. It has got the following stations: Xinzhuang, Chunshen Rd, Yindu Rd, Zhuanqiao , Beiqiao , Jianchuan Rd, Dongchuan Rd, Jinping Rd, Huaning Rd, Wenjing Rd, Minhang Development Zone (Chinatoday.com, n.d). Line six runs from Gangcheng to South Lingyan road. It has a total length of 36 Kilometers, and its identification colour is pinkish. Its station number is 28 and is composed of the following stations: Gangcheng Rd, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone (N) , Hangjin Rd, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone (S), Rd, Wuzhou Avenue, Dongjing Rd, Jufeng Rd, Wulian Rd, Boxing Rd, Jinqiao Rd, Yunshan Rd, Deping Rd, and Beiyangjing Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations include Minsheng Rd, Yuanshen Stadium , Century Avenue, Pudian Rd, Lancun Rd, Children's Medical Center , Xincun , West Gaoke Rd, Dongming Rd., Gaoqing Rd, West Huaxia Rd, Shangnan Rd, South Lingyan Rd, Oriental Sports Center (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line seven runs from Huamu Rd to Meilan Lake and covers a length of 27.6 miles. Its identification color is orage while its station number is 33. The stations along the line include, Longyang Rd, Fanghua Rd, Jinxiu Rd, South Yanggao Rd, West Gaoke Rd, Yuntai Rd, Yaohua Rd, Changqing Rd, Houtan , Chuanchang Rd, Dong'an Rd, Zhaojiabang Rd, Changshu Rd, Jing'an Temple, Changping Rd, and Changshou Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other other stations include Zhenping Rd, Langao Rd, Xincun Rd, Dahua 3rd Rd, Xingzhi Rd, Dachang Town , hangzhong Rd, Shangda Rd, Nanchen Rd, Shanghai University , Qihua Rd, Gucun Park , Liuxing , Panguang Rd, Luonan Xincun , Meilan Lake (Chinatoday.com, n.d). Line 8 of the Shanghai subway system runs from Shiguang Road to Shendu Highway, and its identification colour is blue. Its total length 23.2 miles, and its station number are 30 (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). The stations along the subway include Shiguang Rd, Nenjiang Rd, Xiangyin Rd, Huangxing Park, Middle Yanji Rd, Huangxing Rd, Jiangpu Rd, Anshan Xincun, Siping Rd, and Quyang Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations include Hongkou Football Stadium, North Xizang Rd, Zhongxing Rd, Qufu Rd., People's Square, Dashijie, Laoximen, Lujiabang Rd, South Xizang Rd, China Art Museum, Yaohua Rd, Chengshan Rd, Yangsi , Oriental Sports Center, Lingzhao Xincun, Luheng Rd, Pujiang Town, Jiangyue Rd, Lianhang Rd, Shendu Highway (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line 9 of the subway system runs from middle Yanggao Rd to Songjiang Xincheng and has coverage of 32 miles. Its identification color is light sky blue, and its stations number is 26. The stations that are found along the this line include Middle Yanggao Rd, Century Avenue, Shangcheng Rd, Xiaonanmen , Lujiabang Rd, Madang Rd, Dapuqiao, Jiashan Rd, Zhaojiabang Rd, Xujiahui , andYishan Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations include Guilin Rd, Caohejing Hi-Tech Park , Hechuan Rd, Xingzhong Rd, Qibao, Zhongchun Rd, Jiuting, Sijing , Sheshan, Dongjing , Songjiang University Town , Songjiang Xincheng, Songjiang Sports Center , Zuibaichi Park, and Songjiang South Railway Station (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line 10 of the Shanghai subway system runs from Xinjiangwancheng through Hangzhong Rd, Shanghai Zoo, and Hongqiao Railway Station. The identification color is purple. The total distance covered by this line is 36 miles. Its stations number is 31. The stations along the subway include Xinjiangwancheng, East Yingao Rd, Sanmen Rd, Jiangwan Stadium, Wujiaochang, Guoquan Rd, Tongji University, Siping Rd, Youdian Xincun, Hailun Rd, North Sichuan Rd, Tiantong Rd, and East Nanjing Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations along the line includes Yuyuan Garden, Laoximen, Xintiandi, South Shaanxi Rd, Shanghai Library, Shanghai Jiatong University, Hongqiao Rd, Songyuan Rd, Yili Rd, Shuicheng Rd, Longxi Rd, Longbai Xincun, Ziteng Rd, Hangzhong Rd, Shanghai Zoo, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1, Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, Hongqiao Railway Station (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line 11 runs from Luoshan Rd to North Jiading/huaqiao. The identification color is dark red and covers a total of 45miles. Its station number is 35. The stations along the line include Luoshan Rd, Yuqiao, Pusan Rd, East Sanlin, Sanlin, Oriental Sports Center , Longyao Rd, Yunjin Rd, Longhua, Shanghai Swimming Center, Xujiahui , Jiaotong University, and Jiangsu Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Other stations along includes Longde Rd, Caoyang Rd, Fengqiao Rd, Zhenru, West Railway Station, Liziyuan, Qilianshan Rd, Wuwei Rd, Taopu Xincun , Nanxiang, Malu, Jiading Xincheng, Baiyin Rd, West Jiading, North Jiading. Line 11 has got also a branch line that is linked by Jiading Xincheng station ,Shanghai Circuit , Changji Road, International Automobile City, Anting , Zhaofeng Rd, Guangming Rd, Huaqiao (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line 12 of the Shanghai subway runs from Jinhai Rd to Tiantong Rd and covers 25 miles (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Its identification color is dark green. Its Station number presently is 15 but and the stations along the line include Jinhai Rd, Shenjiang Rd, Jinjing Rd, North Yanggao Rd, Jufeng Rd, Donglu Rd, Fuxing Island , Aiguo Rd, Longchang Rd, Ningguo Rd, Pujiang Park, Dalian Rd, Tilanqiao, International Cruise Terminal , Tiantong Rd(Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line 13 runs from Jinyun Rd to Jinshajian Rd and covers 10.2 miles. Its Station number is 6 and the stations along the subway include; Jinyun Rd, West Jinshajiang Rd, Fengzhuang, South Qilianshan Rd, Zhenbei Rd, Jinshajiang Rd (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Line 16 of the Line runs from Luoshan Rd to Dishui Lake and covers a distance of 36.6 miles (Travelchinaguide.com, n.d). Its identification colour is aqua. There are 10 stations along the line and include Luoshan Rd, East Zhoupu , Heshahangcheng , East Hangtou , Xinchang , Wild Animal Park, Huinan, Shuyuan , Lingang Avenue, Dishui Lake(Chinatoday.com, n.d). Shanghai Metro System can handle up to five million passengers in a day, and there is a likelihood of the system becoming the worlds most used once its construction is completed (The Transport politic, nd). Shanghai subway passenger traffic hit its peak by serving 6.8 million people in a day. Additionally, the largest figure recorded on a cross-section peak was 2.18 million people in a day. According to the statistics released by the Shanghai Metro operation company in 2005, Metro Line 1 handled 294,793,000 passengers on a daily basis (Economic Theory, 2014). In July 2014, the passenger traffic reached 4-4.13 million hours of operations of the (Shanghai, 2014). The subway used about 300-500 million yuan/km. By the end of 2010, 238 billion yuan had been spent on this construction. The source of funds are provided by the government and banks whereby the government provides 40% of the funds, and the remaining 60% is sourced through bank loans, liquidizing remnant assets and issuing bonds. Consequently, the government's role is to change from a major investor (when it invested from 95% and 96% in line1 and 2 respectively (Wikibooks, 2014). The government played a critical role in the formation of the company and promoting its commercial financing (Wikibooks, 2014). Thus, the metro Co Ltd was formed. The operations of the metro system are similar to the buses. However, the metro fare is based on the number of stations travelling while buses charge a fixed price for the whole trip. Shanghai dragged into debt despite 1.9 trillion GDP in 2011 because of the costs that are associated with construction of the subway systems. Consequently, Shanghai metro network is the fifth busies in the world, but the income it generates is not enough to support itself. According to the chair of Shanghai Shetong Metro Group, he was quoted saying that it is only line 1 is profitable. The income collected from the selling of the tickets it only covers the daily operating costs, and it is not enough to repay loans back or for maintenance. In this situation, the whole city lines are operating in debts. Hence, the gross liabilities that Shanghai Metro Co. had by the end of 2011 of 609.7 million yuan (China Daily, 2012). When compared to 2009, it was 262.8 million yuan. Despite the positive increase, experts have warned that the report did not reflect the overall situation but only relied to the optimal sources (China Daily, 2012). The local government has played a critical role in the financing of the subway construction. It donates about 10billion yuan annually for construction and further 2 billion yuan for maintenance and for the maintenance of the low-ticket price (China Daily, 2012). Once the construction of the Shanghai subway is completed in 2015, it will cover 581 kilometers and the whole system will have an operating loss of 4.3 billion Yuan (China Daily, 2012). This loss will occur despite the huge traffic that use this means of transport. Additionally, according to Wu, if there will be further depreciation and the costs associated with accounting, the loss will hit 17 billion yuan. On the other hand, it is estimated that in 2015, when the network reaches 581 km, the system will have an operating loss of 4.3 billion yuan (China Daily, 2012). My experience travelling along the Subways in Shanghai was an exciting experience because is Shanghai the most convenient means of transportation is the use of the Subway Metro system. At one time, I remember when I was going to Pudong Airport; I used the Metro Subway system. What I liked most about this system is the most convenient means of transport to use when navigating around Shanghai more especially during the rush hours. Additionally, the Metro transport system is easy to learn and reliable in there are maps indicated in stations, signs are utilized well and announcements are made both in English and the Chinese language. At the end of the journey, when I calculated what I had spent, I found that the metro system cheaper than the use of a taxi. Additionally, in most cases you do need to use cash when paying for the fare. I enjoyed using my Smart card, and the use of electronic payment was safe and convenient. In summary, the subway is the most convenient means of transport to use when travelling to various centers within and around Shanghai. It is cheap, faster and comfortable means that are utilized about 68 million people on a daily basis. Moreover, data from the 2010 census shows that majority of the population in Shanghai live in urban areas due to the rapid industrialization of the city. Out of 18.8 million people who live in Shanghai, 39% of this population is longtime immigrants. Majority of them come from Japan, United States and Korea. Additionally, transit system serves millions of people on a daily basis and operates between 4.55 am to 11:30pm on a daily basis. The construction of Line 1 and Line 2 of the Shanghai subway system was funded the government at a cost of 300-500million yuan/km. Consequently, the government alone does not fund the project; local banks have also contributed about 60% towards this project through loans and bonds. From my experience, the use of the subway transport is enjoyable and convenient. This is because no time is wasted because there is a smooth flow of the traffic. References China Daily. (2012). Subway costs feared to go off the rails. Web. Retrieved on 23rd October 2014 from http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-07/31/content_15633448.htm. Chinatoday.com. (n.d). Shanghai.Web. Retrieved on 22nd October 2014 from http://www.chinatoday.com/city/shanghai.htm. Economic Theory. (2014). From the Shanghai Metro Line 1 to see passenger flow forecast Uncertainty. Web. Retrieved on 23rd 2014 from http://www.nt20.com/index.php/archives/7129. Shanghai Metro. (2014). Operational Network Diagram. Web. Retrieved on 23rd October 2014 from http://www.shmetro.com/node155/node158/201004/con103680.htm. The Transport politic. (nd). Shanghai's Metro, Now World's Longest, Continues to Grow Quickly as China Invests in Rapid Transit. Web. Retrieved on 23rd October 2014 from http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/04/15/shanghais-metro-now-worlds-longest-continues-to-grow-quickly-as-china-invests-in-rapid-transit/. Travelchinaguide.com. (n.d).Shanghai Subway. Retrieved on 22nd October 2014 from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/shanghai/transportation/subway.htm. Wikibooks. (2014). Transportation Deployment Casebook/Shanghai Metro. Web. Retrieved on 23rd October 2014 from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Transportation_Deployment_Casebook/Shanghai_Metro. WPR. (2014). Shanghai Population 2014. Retrieved on 22nd October 2014 from http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/shanghai-population/. Read More