Line 2 (Wuhan Metro)

The Line 2 of Wuhan Metro (Chinese: 武汉地铁线) is the first underground metro line crossing the Yangtze River. The line started its trial run on September 25, 2012,[4][5]and officially opened on December 28, 2012.[3][6] It is Wuhan's second metro line after Line 1, and the city's first underground line, since Line 1 is mostly elevated. Line 2 runs in a northwest–southeast direction, connecting Hankou and Wuchang, including Hankou Railway Station and major commercial districts.

Line 2
Platform of Zhongshan Park
Overview
Other name(s)Line 2n or Airport line (机场线)
StatusOperational
OwnerWuhan
LocaleWuhan, Hubei
Termini
Stations39
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemWuhan Metro
Services1
Operator(s)Wuhan Metro Group Co., Ltd.
Rolling stockCRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Chinese Type B
Daily ridership1,000,000 (2017 Avg.)[1]
1,165,500 (April 2017 Peak)[2]
History
Opened28 December 2012; 11 years ago (2012-12-28)[3]
Technical
Line length60 km (37.28 mi)
Number of tracks2
CharacterUnderground and elevated
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC third rail
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map

The number of single day passengers on Line 2 has exceeded 500,000 on Jan 1, 2013, the first weekday after its opening, excluding elders holding free passes.[7] When more lines interchangeable with Line 2 open around 2015, the passenger volume could reach 1 million per day. And such number was consistently reached by April 2017. To accommodate such huge traffic numbers, all stations on Line 2 have been extended to the length of 8-car trains for future use.[8]

Line 2 is an important metro line in the Wuhan Metro system for being able to carry the heavy cross-Yangtze traffic in Wuhan.

Overview

  • Length: 60 kilometres (37 mi)
  • Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
  • Stations: 38.
  • Double track: full line.
  • Electrified: full line.
  • Underground: full line.
  • Traffic direction: right-hand side.[9]

History

Construction initially began on November 16, 2006, at Fanhu Station under a test-initiative program.[10] and the National Development and Reform Commission approved all construction of the line on September 1, 2007.[11]The tunnels were completed on February 26, 2012,[12]and the line started revenue service on December 28, 2012.[13]It was extended to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport on December 28, 2016.[9]An extension of the line to the south in Donghu New Technology Development Zone is operating and was opened on February 19, 2019.[14][15][16]

On the first day of the system's operations, 132,000 passengers were counted entering or exiting the system at the line's last station in Wuchang, Optics Valley Square (Guanggu Guangchang). By the early 2013, the weekday daily ridership (entries + exits) at the same station was counted at 95,000.[17] As of April 2013 the daily ridership of Line 2 averaged 383,600 people per day.[1]

SegmentCommencementLengthStation(s)Name
Jinyintan — Optics Valley Square28 December 201227.152 km (16.87 mi)21Phase 1
Tianhe International Airport — Jinyintan28 December 201619.957 km (12.40 mi)7Airport extension
Optics Valley Square — Fozuling19 February 201913.35 km (8.30 mi)10Southern extension

Stations

Station nameConnectionsDistance
km
Location
EnglishChinese
Tianhe International Airport天河机场 WXG  WUH0.0000.000Huangpi
Hangkongzongbu航空总部6.0046.004
Songjiagang宋家岗1.4277.431
Julong Boulevard巨龙大道 7 2.0399.470
Panlongcheng盘龙城1.64311.113
Hongtu Boulevard宏图大道 3   8 3.94615.059Dongxihu
Changqingcheng常青城2.88617.945
Jinyintan金银潭2.01219.957
Changqing Huayuan常青花园 6 1.09221.049
Changgang Road长港路1.72522.774Jianghan
Hankou Railway Station汉口火车站 10   12   WXG  HKN1.40724.181
Fanhu范湖 3 1.21625.397
Wangjiadun East王家墩东 7 1.41026.807
Qingnian Road青年路1.00227.809
Zhongshan Park中山公园0.94628.755
Xunlimen循礼门 1 1.54330.298
Jianghan Road江汉路 6 0.89731.195
Jiyuqiao积玉桥 5 3.29234.487Wuchang
Pangxiejia螃蟹岬 7 1.57936.066
Xiaoguishan小龟山0.93036.996
Hongshan Square洪山广场 4 1.16838.164
Zhongnan Road中南路 4 0.96639.130
Baotong Temple宝通寺1.41840.548
Jiedaokou街道口 8 1.23841.786Hongshan
Guangbutun广埠屯0.95142.737
Huquan虎泉 11 1.61344.350
Yangjiawan杨家湾 Wuhan BRT1.44245.792
Optics Valley Square光谷广场 11 1.31747.109
Luoxiong Road珞雄路 Optics Valley Tram
(via Walking Street and Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Station)
0.79447.903
Huazhong University of Science and Technology华中科技大学 Optics Valley Tram1.00948.912
Guanggu Boulevard光谷大道0.81749.729
Jiayuan Road佳园路1.36851.097
Wuhandong Railway Station武汉东站 11  LFN1.48752.584Jiangxia
Huanglongshan Road黄龙山路1.05953.643
Jinronggang North金融港北2.03855.681Hongshan/Jiangxia
Xiuhu秀湖1.60357.284
Canglong East Street藏龙东街1.99959.283Jiangxia
Fozuling佛祖岭 Optics Valley Tram1.02160.304

Change of Names

On August 23, 2012, five stations were renamed according to the result of a poll.

  • Jinse Yayuan and Mingdu Stations were firstly named after nearby real estate development, and was subsequently renamed as "Changgang Road" and "Yangjiawan" respectively to avoid advertising for the development.
  • "Hankou Railway Station Station" has been renamed "Hankou Railway Station" to avoid unnecessary repetition and pronunciation challenges.
  • "Jia" in Pangxiejia has a homophone that tells the story of history as the site of Metro station was once a section of the ancient city walls of Wuchang that were built along the Pangxiejia ridge.
  • "Xiaoguishan" replaced Tiyu South Road (Tiyunanlu) to make the historical places more easily recognizable.[18]

Paired Cross-Platform Transfer

Hongshan Square station and Zhongnan Road station offer paired cross-platform interchange for passengers riding between 4 directions of the two lines. The configuration for the two stations is similar to that of Mong Kok and Prince Edward stations in Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway.[19]

Passengers riding on Line 2 from Hankou wishing to reach Wuchang railway station, can transfer at Zhongnan Road station by crossing the platform. Those who going to Wuhan railway station, can transfer at Hongshan Square station by crossing the platform, and vice versa.[20]

Female Waiting Area

Female Waiting Area in Zhongshan Park station

Stations of Line 2 provides female only waiting area during hours of operation, following the example of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Tehran and Mexico City, to protect female riders from sexual harassment.[21][22] Wuhan became the first city to set up female only waiting area in China.[23]

Starbucks Metro Store

China's first Starbucks Metro store is opened in Hongshan Square station.[24]

Sale of Partial Naming Rights

Partial naming rights of Jianghan Road station of this line was sold to a local snack producer, Zhouheiya (Zhou's dark duck), and has aroused public discontent with the Wuhan Metro Group company.[25] Some are upset by the fact that Metro company sold the rights without public input; some are because the product is not of high taste, and might affect the image of the city; some think it is fine, for selling partial naming rights is a good way to attract funding from the private sector, and does not materially affect the quality of the service.[citation needed]

As of November 23, 2012, all sale of partial naming rights are canceled.[26]

Rolling stock

TypeTime of manufacturingLines operatedCarsAssemblyNotes
Type B2011–2012Line 2, Wuhan Metro180Tc+M+M+M+M+TcManufactured by Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd.[27]

The rolling stock for Line 2 is currently 6-car trains, with 100 km/h (62 mph) max speed, 80 km/h (50 mph) operational max speed and 36.6 km/h (22.7 mph) average running speed. The collection shoe is installed on the lower part of the vehicle. The third rail is a mix of steel and aluminum. A full train provides 176 seats, and can carry 1276 passengers by Chinese regulation of 9 people per square meter. In the future 8-car trains will be used.[8]

See also

References