The Shanghai metro is one of the youngest in the world and among the most rapidly expanding. After the first line opened only in 1995 as a north-south axis from the Central Station to the southern suburbs, by the end of 2007 the network had reached a total length of 227 km, with 161 stations and 8 lines!

Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9 are operated by Shanghai Metro Operation Co. Ltd., and lines 5 and 6 by Shanghai Modern Rail Transit Co. Ltd. (SMRT). All lines 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)

26.0 km, 17 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 - Zhang Jiang (2.8 km, 0.8km underground)
30 Dec 2006 - Zhong Shan Park - Song Hong Road (6.8 km)

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 is 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

31.5 km, 27 stations (12.1 km above ground)

29 Dec 2007: Gang Cheng Road - South Ling Yan 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.

22.6 km, 20 stations (all underground)

29 Dec 2007: Shi Guang Road - Yao Hua Road

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

29.1 km, 12 stations (approx. 16 km above ground)

29 Dec 2007: Gui Lin Road - Song Jiang Xin Cheng

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.

After the big extensions opened in Dec 2007, the next goal is the World Expo being held in Shanghai in 2010 (view map):

1) Line 2 will link the city's two airports. The opening of the western extension to Hongqiao Airport has been delayed time and again. The eastern extension to Pudong International Airport will provide an alternative to the present Maglev service.

2) Line 7 will run from Qi Lian Shan Rd in the northwest to Dong An Rd station on Line 4 (20 km - 15 stations). Construction started in 2002 for completion in 2007/08. Later it will be extended north to Shanghai University and towards the southeast under the Huangpu River to Pudong to the planned East Shanghai Railway station.

3) Line 8 will continue further south along Shangnan Rd to Sanlin Town.

4) Line 9 (Shensong Line) is being extended through the city centre to a terminus in Pudong.

5) Line 10 is a new east-west metro line through the city centre with two branches at its western end.

6) Line 11 will eventually be a long cross-city line running from the northwestern to the southeastern suburbs. The northwestern and central sections are scheduled to be completed by 2011/12.

7) Line 13 - the first four stations of this cross-city line will be opened in 2010 to serve the EXPO 2010 area.

More lines are in the pipeline, with the numbering of planned routes having meanwhile reached 18!

China's largest city with more than 15 million inhabitants is planning to build 11 metro lines (more than 300km) and 10 light rail lines (120km) in the next 25 years.

- OPERATION

Line 1 - every 3-3.5 minutes during rush hours
Line 2 - every 3.2-3.5 minutes during rush hours
Line 3 - every 4.5-5 minutes during rush hours
Line 4 - every 10-12 minutes during rush hours
Line 5 - every 5-5.5 minutes during rush hours

- FARES

3-8 Yuan for a single ride depending on distance, payable with smartcards available from 10 Yuan to 1000 Yuan (including 20 Yuan deposit) smartcards allows transfer to buses,taxis,metro:

- 3 yuan (0-10 km)
- 1 yuan per 10 km for more than 10 km trips

Shanghai Shentong Metro Co. Ltd (Official Website)

Shanghai Modern Rail Transit (SMRT - Official Website)

Shanghai Metro at Wikipedia

Allen Zagel's China Rail includes more Shanghai Subway Pictures

Shanghai Metro Map at Johomaps.com

UrbanRail.Net Shanghai Metro Gallery

View map with future lines

Metro Map 2008 that calculates fares and travel time

Photos © 1-2 Allen Zagel; 3-5 Joseph Kristensen (More Photos)