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Xi'an Metro

The Xi'an Metro, also known as the Xi'an Rail Transit, is a rapid transit system in the city of Xi'an and the neighbouring city of Xianyang, in Shaanxi province, China.

The system has 9 lines in operation. Line 2 opened to the public on September 16, 2011. Line 1 began operation on September 15, 2013. Line 3 began operation after months of delay on November 8, 2016. Line 4 opened on December 26, 2018. Lines 5, 6, 9 opened in December 2020. Line 14 opened in September 2019 and extended in June 2021. Line 16 opened on June 27, 2023.

History

Initial proposals for a subway in Xi'an were created in the 70s which called for the Xi'an City Wall to be demolished to make way for a ring subway line. This was similar to what was done to create Beijing Subway Line 2, but the plan was scrapped due to successful opposition by preservationists and lack of funding for the project. Later, Xi'an began its planning a multiline metro system in the mid-1980s. The plan was first submitted to the State Council in 1994, with four planned lines and a total length of 73.2 km (45.5 mi). In February 2004, the re-drafted plan was submitted to the State Government, which received final approval on September 13, 2006.

The first line, Line 2, began construction along Chang'an Street on 29 September 2006 and was completed in 2011. It runs north–south and passes under such historic sites as the Bell Tower and the Xi'an City Wall. It is 26.6 km (16.5 mi) long with 23.5 km (14.6 mi) lying underground, approximately 20 metres (65 ft 7 in) below the surface. It is estimated to have cost 17.9 billion yuan (US$2.24 billion). The route stretches from the Beikezhan to Weiqunan with 20 stops. The travel time is 39 minutes for the entire length, cutting the commute almost in half. Operations began on 28 September 2011.

Four other routes were planned to start construction in 2011 and to be finished by around 2020. When completed, the system will span 251.8 km (156.5 mi) and will mainly service the urban and suburban districts of Xi'an and part of Xianyang.

On June 12, 2019, the NDRC approved the Phase III (2018-2024) Construction Plan of Xi'an Metro. The plan includes Line 1 (Phase 3), Line 2 (Phase 2), Line 8, Line 10 (Phase 1), Line 14, Line 15 (Phase 1), Line 16 (Phase 1). The total length of Xi'an Metro will be 423 kilometres (263 mi) in 2024.

Lines in operation

Line 1

The second route, Line 1, was scheduled to start in late 2009 but was brought one year earlier as per Chinese government's response to the Great Recession. Line 1 opened on 15 September 2013. The route runs from east to west. The line is 31.45 km (19.54 mi) with 23 stations.

To accelerate the speed of overall economic development between Xi'an and Xianyang cities, the Transportation Department of Xi'an decided to extend Line 1 to promote business travel between the two cities, as well as improve the efficiency of land use alongside Line 1. The preparation phase for the extension Line 1 started with the compilation of a feasibility study on November 4, 2007.

Line 2

Line 2 opened on 16 September 2011. This line is 26.715 km (16.600 mi) long with 21 stations.

Line 3

Construction of Xi'an Metro's Line 3 broke ground in May 2011, began public trial testing on September 20, 2016, and was opened at November 8, 2016. The line is currently 39.15 km (24.33 mi) long with 26 stations. When Phase 2 (still under planning) opens, the line will be 50.5 km (31.4 mi) long and with 31 stations.

Line 4

Construction of test section of Line 4 of Xi'an Metro started in late 2012.

Line 4 started service on December 26, 2018.

Line 5

Line 6

Line 6 opened on 28 December 2020.

Line 9

Line 14

The 29.31 km western section from Airport West (T1, T2, T3) to Xi'an Beizhan opened on 29 September 2019. The 13.65 km (8.48 mi) eastern section from Xi'an Beizhan to Heshao opened on 29 June 2021.

Line 16

Line 16 opened on 27 June 2023.

Future development

The final sections of Lines 5 & 6 connect to two new railway stations and are to open at the same time as those stations.

Accidents

On 30 December 2008, a fire occurred that was extinguished within an hour; all workers evacuated safely. Just 66 hours later, on 2 January, another fire occurred at another station on Line 2.

On 26 May 2009, an individual suffered minor injuries from a fire during infrastructure work on Line 1.

On 2 August 2009, 9:20am, a cave-in at the construction site of Sajinqiao section of Line 1 trapped migrant workers under 10 cubic meters of earth for over three hours, hospitalizing at least two who later died at the hospital.