GUANGZHOU METRO - A CHINESE CHALLENGE IN MASS TRANSIT RAILWAYS

This article describes the design and operations of the Guangzhou Metro, the third metro to be opened in China. It includes a route map. The metro began initial trial operations in June 1997, and is expected to be fully operational in July 1999. There will be three metro lines and one light rail transit line, and these railway services will be coordinated with the existing bus and trolleybus network. Line 1 runs for 16.4km in tunnel and 2.1km at ground level. Four methods of tunnel construction were applied: cut and cover (3.5km), immersed tube under the Pearl River (1.2km), bored tunnel (4.5km), and mining tunnel (7.2km). All the stations have individual and modern designs, with spacious and customer-friendly layouts with easy access for passengers. Automatic fare collection systems will be installed in the final stage. There are 21 trains for Line 1, supplied by Adtrans with main components supplied by Siemens; a 140m long six-car train consists of two equal half-trains, linked via semiautomatic couplers, and has special safety features. The main electric power for the trains is supplied by an overhead catenary system. Other systems include real-time information, track and trackside, telecommunication, station and tunnel systems. Project organisation, operations, and the training programme are also described.