2,461,300 (2021 avg.) 3,539,000 (4 March 2022, Peak)
Operation
Began operation
November 24, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-11-24)
Operator(s)
Hangzhou Metro Corporation (Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 6, Line 7, Line 8, Line 9, Line 10, Line 16, Line 19) MTR Corporation (Hangzhou) (Line 1, Line 5)
Technical
System length
516 km (321 mi)[1] (metro lines only, excluding Hanghai line)
562 km (349 mi) (metro + commuter rail, including Hanghai line)
The Hangzhou Metro (Chinese: 杭州地铁) is a rapid transit system that serves Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, China. The system opened on November 24, 2012.[2] It is the 17th city in China to operate a rapid transit system.
Line 3 begins in Xingqiao subdistrict in Linping District, runs in northeast–southwest direction and terminates at Wushanqiancun, North of Hangzhou West Railway Station. A branch commence near Xixi Wetland and connects Xiaoheshan Higher Education Park.
Line 5 is a Z-shaped line stretching from Future Sci-Tech City in Yuhang District, passing multiple areas in the downtown and ends near Hangzhou-Shaoxing city limit. It provides multiple points of transfer and it is one of the busiest lines in the system, serving more than 500,000 passengers per day. It connects to Line 1 of the Shaoxing Metro.
Line 7 links the West Lake with Qianjiang New City, Olympic Sports Park, Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int'l Airport and Dajiangdong Industrial Park.
Line 8 provides a link between Xiasha Higher Education Park and Dajiangdong Industrial Park.
Line 9 provides a link between Qianjiang New City and Linping District. It connects to the Hangzhou–Haining Intercity Rail. The section between Linping and Coach Center was part of Line 1 until 10 July 2021.
Line 10 provides a North–South link between Huanglong Sports Center and Renhe subdistrict in Yuhang. It plans to connect Hangzhou-Deqing Intercity Rail in the future.
Line 16 is an express metro line linking Lin'an District with Yuhang District.
The planning for a metro system in the city started in the 1990s and was about to start construction works in September 2003, but the State Council suspended construction works due to increasing costs. The state council approved the construction and operation of a rapid transit system by the Hangzhou Subway Group Co. Ltd in Hangzhou on June 5, 2005.[8] The preliminary design for the first line, Line 1, was approved on January 11, 2007, by the Development and Reform Commission after four days of study. It would be 47.97 km (29.81 mi) long, of which 41.36 km (25.70 mi) is underground, 6.14 km (3.82 mi) elevated, and 0.47 km (0.29 mi) at grade.[9]
Construction
Wulin Square stationEvolution of the network
Construction of the first phase of Hangzhou Metro Line 1 began on March 28, 2007, with subsequent phases beginning later in that year. The first phase included three underground stations in Qianjiang New City. Jiubao East Station is the biggest station along Line 1 and will be a hub for the future metro system and other forms of public transport.[3] The funding of Line 1 came from both the city government and the banks, with 10.2 billion yuan and 5 billion yuan respectively. The first phase construction was estimated to be 45 billion yuan.[8]
In January 2009, it was announced that MTR Corporation would invest in a 22 billion-yuan ($3.2 billion) / 25-year / 49% share joint venture with the Hangzhou government to operate Line 1 of the metro.[10]
The first section of Line 4 opened for trial operation on February 2, 2015.[11]
In December 2016, the National Development and Reform Commission approved the planning for 10 lines, including extensions to the three existing lines, scheduled to open in time for the 2022 Asian Games.[12] By then the Hangzhou Metro network is projected to be 446 km (277.13 mi) long.[13] As of 2018 there are over 300 km (186.41 mi) of subway lines under construction in Hangzhou.[14]
Accident
On November 15, 2008, a 75-metre (246 ft 1 in) section of the tunnel near Fengqing Avenue in Xiaoshan District collapsed while under construction,[15] killing 17 people.[16]
