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System

The city of Changchun lies in northeastern China, some 900 km from Beijing, between Harbin and Shenyang. It is an industrial city of heavy industry with a population of 7 million. Changchun is one of the first cities which employed a light rail system as the city's metro transportation. The initial phase of the Light Rail plan consists of a loop line of about 20 km long, the western half (Line 3) of which was completed in 2001, and was opened in October 2002. The line is 14.6 km long, with 17 stations. The line runs mostly at grade, with about 1 km underground and 1 km viaduct section.

Phase 2 development is an eastern extension of the current Line 3, from Weiguangjie to the tourist area of Jingyuetan (Jingyue Pond and Skiing Site). Jingyuetan Forest Park is the largest artificial forest in the world. Work on the Phase 2 started in 2003 but was suspended for a year due to a shortage of funding. Progress was resumed and the extension was completed in late 2006. It consists of 16 stations and is 17 km long. The project is entirely on a viaduct.

Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the system is under construction.

All light rail cars are to be manufactured by the Changchun Railway Car Company.

History

10/2002: Line 3 Changchun station - Weiguangjie
2006: Line 3 Weiguangjie - Changyingshijicheng (17km)

2009: Line 4 Nansihuan (South Loop 4) - Changchun North station (17.0km)
2009: Line 3 Changchun station - Yongning Road (2km)
201?: Line 1 Yongchun - Lanjia (approx 20km)
201?: Line 2 Xike Station - (Economic Development Zone) (approx 20km)
20??: Line 5 Xinglongtuan - Fufengtuan

Projects

Line 4 (Planned)
Phase 3 of the railway development comprises the construction of a new Line 4 and a 2-km extension of Line 3 that altogether completes a railway loop. The line is 17 km long and terminates at the Changchun North station. Elevated section will be 12.5 km long, with the rest being at-grade and tunnel section. Construction will begin in 2007, and is estimated cost at USD 230 million.

Line 1 (Planned)
Line 1 is a planned North-South metro line for the mid-term future, and will pass through the CBD of Changchun and railway station. Under the government planning, it will be completed by 2020.

Line 2 (Planned)
Line 2 is a planned East-West metro line that is to be completed by 2020.

The above includes metro plan up to 2020 only. Under the government blueprint, a network of 179 km will be completed by 2050, see government map