The Shanghai metro is among the most rapidly expanding in the world. After the first line opened only in 1995 as a north-south axis from the Central Station to the southern suburbs, the Shanghai Metro system has reached a total length of over 420 km in 2010, comprising 11 lines!

All metro lines are operated by Shanghai Metro Operation Co. Ltd., and they have 1435 mm standard gauge, with 1500 V dc being supplied via an overhead catenary. Standard platforms are 150-190 m long.

38.1 km, 28 stations

10 April 1995: Shanghai Railway Station - Jin Jiang Park (16.1 km, 13 stations)
xx xx 1996: Jin Jiang Park - Xin Zhuang (5.3 km, 3 stations)
28 Dec 2004: Shanghai Railway Station - Gong Fu Xin Cun (12.4 km, 9 stations)
29 Dec 2007: Gong Fu Xin Cun - Fu Jing Road (4.3 km elevated - 3 stations)

64 km, 30 stations

28 Oct 1999 - Zhong Shan Park - Long Yang Rd (16.4 km - 12 stations) (regular service since 13 June 2000)
26 Dec 2000 - Long Yang Rd - Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park (2.8 km, 0.8 km underground)
30 Dec 2006 - Zhong Shan Park - Song Hong Road (6.8 km)
24 Feb 2010 - Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park - Guanglan Road (including new underground station at Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park)
16 Mar 2010 - Song Hong Road - East Xujing (8.6 km)
08 April 2010 - Guanglan Road - Pudong International Airport (26.8 km)
01 July 2010 - Hongqiao Railway Station added

40.3 km, 29 stations (11.9 km and 9 stations shared with Line 4)

26 Dec 2000 - Shanghai South Railway Station - Jiang Wan Town (trial operation: 24.6 km, mostly elevated)
18 Dec 2006 - Jiang Wan Town - North Jiang Yang Road (15.7 km)

The third line, initially referred to as the 'Pearl Line', was developed out of a former ring railway, mainly elevated, to run from Baoshan Steel Complex in the north via Shanghai Railway Station to Cao Xi Rd. in the south. After several months of trial operation, full service started in Aug 2001.

34.2 km, 26 stations (11.9 km and 9 stations shared with Line 3)

31 Dec 2005: Bao Shan Road - Lan Cun Road and Da Mu Qiao Road - Yi Shan Road
29 Dec 2007: Lan Cun Road - Da Mu Qiao Road

The second phase of the original 'Pearl Line' (Line 4) runs through Pudong along Oriental Road. This line forms a circle with the existing Pearl Line, linking Bao Shan Road station and Yi Shan Road station via Pudong on the east bank of the Huangpu River. The 22.3 km mainly underground line (1.25 km elevated) was scheduled for completion by the end of 2004 (17 stations), but was delayed due to the collapse of a building suffered on the eastern cross-river section. The first stretches opened in Dec. 2005, with the full circle being completed at the end of 2007.

17.2 km, 11 stations

25 Nov 2003: Xin Zhuang - Min Hang Development Zone (all elevated)

The present Line 5 was designed as a southern extension of Line 1 (XinMin Line) to Minhang, but it was eventually opened as a separate line . For this line Siemens TS supplied the VICOS operation control system, the SICAS electronic interlocking and the ZUB 200 intermittent automatic train control (ATC) system. Trains were built by Alstom (Metropolis). As this line runs completely elevated it is also referred to as 'Light Railway' in Chinese terminology. Platforms are only 80 m long

32 km, 28 stations (12.1 km above ground)

29 Dec 2007: Gang Cheng Road - South Ling Yan Road
12 Apr 2011: South Ling Yan Road - Oriental Sports Center (ex-Ji Yang Road)

Like Line 5, also referred to as 'Light Railway' with 80 m long platforms, and operated by Shanghai Modern Rail Transit Co. Ltd. (SMRT). It runs parallel to the Huang Pu River on the Pudong side, from Wai Gao Qiao in the north to San Lin City in the south.

44.2 km, 33 stations

05 Dec 2009: Shanghai University - Hua Mu Road
20 Apr 2010: Hou Tan station
28 Dec 2010: Shanghai University - Meilan Lake (10 km)

37.5 km, 30 stations

29 Dec 2007: Shi Guang Road - Yao Hua Road
05 July 2009: Yao Hua Road - Aerospace Museum
12 Apr 2011: Oriental Sports Center (ex-Ji Yang Road) station
28 Sept 2012: China Art Museum station

The 'Yangpu Line' runs from New Jiangwan City in the north to Zhongshan South Rd via People's Square.

52 km, 26 stations (approx. 16 km above ground)

29 Dec 2007: Gui Lin Road - Song Jiang Xin Cheng
28 Dec 2008: Gui Lin Road - Yi Shan Road
31 Dec 2009: Yi Shan Road - Century Avenue
07 Apr 2010: Century Avenue - Middle Yanggao Road
30 Dec 2012: Song Jiang Xin Cheng - Song Jiang South Railway Station

Metro Line 9 (Shensong Line) was conceived as a regional express line (R4), to run from Xu Jia Hui on Line 1 towards the southwest to Song Jiang New City, but it has eventually been developed as a full metro line across the city centre. When it opened in Dec 2007, it was not yet connected to any other metro line.

xx km, 31 stations

10 Apr 2010: Xinjiangwancheng - Hangzhong Road
30 Nov 2010: Longxi Road - Hongqiao Railway Station

46 km, 20 stations

31 Dec 2009: North Jia Ding - Jiang Su Road
29 Mar 2010: Jia Ding Xin Cheng - An Ting
26 Apr 2011: East Chang Ji Rd station

Line 11 will eventually be a long cross-city line running from the northwestern to the southeastern suburbs.

8.3 km, 5 stations

20 Apr 2010: Madang Road - Shibo Avenue (Expo)*
01 Nov 2010: end of service*

30 Dec 2012: Jinshajiang Road - Jinyun Road

*Operated as the 4 km 'Expo Line' shuttle, between Madang Road (interchange with Line 9) and the Expo.

56.4 km, 8 stations - suburban express line operated by Jinshan Railway Co. Ltd.

28 Sept 2012: Shanghei Nanzhan (Shanghai South Station) - Jinshan

Rubber-tired tram system with Translohr technology (central guide-rail) in eastern part of Pudong

- route length: 10 km
- 15 stops
- opened 1 January 2010

Several extensions and new lines are currently under construction (view map):

1) Line 13

2) Line 12

3) Line 11 southern extension from Jiangsu Rd to LinGang Xin Chen

4) Line 5 southern extension from Dong Chuan Rd to Xi Du

5) Line 9 northeastern extension as well as southern extension from Song Jiang Xin Cheng to Nan Qiao Xin Chen

Shanghai Shentong Metro Co. Ltd (Official Website)

Shanghai Metro at Wikipedia

Explore Shanghai > Metro by Matt Mayer

Allen Zagel's China Rail includes more Shanghai Subway Pictures

Shanghai Metro Map at Johomaps.com

View map with future lines

Metro Map 2008 that calculates fares and travel time

Zhangjiang Tram at Wikipedia

Photos © 1-2 Allen Zagel; 3-5 Joseph Kristensen; 6 Xu Edison

Photos © 1 Simba Qiu; 2 Trevor Olson