Kunming Rail Transit (KRT)
Background
Locale	Kunming, Yunnan, China
Transit type	Rapid Transit
Number of lines	2 open, 2 under construction
Number of stations	14 open, 37 proposed
Operation
Began operation	28 June 2012
Operator(s)	Kunming Rail Transit Corporation
Technical
System length	40.1 km (24.9 mi)
Kunming Rail Transit current operation

Kunming Rail Transit (KRT) or Kunming Metro is a rapid transit system in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. With a population just over 3 million, Kunming was one of the largest cities in China without a metro system. The system will initially consist of 2 lines, with a further 4 proposed. The metro will consist of subway segments in the city centre and above ground grade-separated segments in the periphery. Line 6 opened on June 28, 2012, connecting the city with its new airport, Kunming Changshui International Airport.^[1]

Background[edit]

The streets of Kunming have long been congested and there have been talks of a subway system since the late 1990s. A 2006 proposal would have seen construction start in 2008 with a north-south line and an east-west line. The current rapid transit system was first announced in 2009, with construction scheduled to start later that year. The proposed routes not only serve commuters in Kunming city centre, but will help encourage development to the city's southeast. The suburb of Chenggong has been the site of a recent construction boom, although most new developments are still unoccupied without adequate transit connections. Thus, the Kunming Metro will serve the dual purpose of alleviating traffic problems in the city's core, and encouraging growth in the southeast.

Construction[edit]

Construction on lines 1 and 2 officially began in May 2010, after months of delays. An elevated test section had been under construction since 2009. Lines 1 (34 km) and 2 (22 km) were scheduled to open in 2012, but with delays, it is estimated they won't open until early 2013. Construction on line 3 began in August 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2016.^[2] Construction of Line 6, which is an mainly elevated express line to the new Kunming Airport will be completed by mid-2012 with the line planned to open on 28 June 2012. The entire system consisting of 6 lines is estimated to be complete by 2018.

Construction of Line 1 is expected to cost as much as 32 billion yuan (US$4.5 billion), with each kilometer of above-ground light rail costing around 250 million yuan and each kilometer of underground subway expected to cost between 400 million and 800 million yuan. All rail lines within Erhuan Lu (Kunming's second ring road) will be underground.

The primary contractor is China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC).

Rolling stock[edit]

Line 6: The trains were manufactured by China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation Ltd (CSR) Zhuzhou. 6 car sets will operate at 120 km/h. CSR met with journalists in October 2011 to address safety concerns of operating at such speeds.^[3]

Specifications

Note: needs specifications added once operational.

Line 1 & 2: CSR Zhuji will supply Type B trains by November 2013.^[4]

Lines[edit]

Operational[edit]

Line 1[edit]

Line 1 is currently 22.1 km long with 12 stations, running from Xiaodongcun to University Town South. It will consist of underground segments in Kunming and Chenggong and an elevated segment connecting the two. Attractions served will include Kunming Railway Station, Century Town, Guandu Old Town, and Sports Centre.

Line 6[edit]

Line 6 (from west to east): 18.18 km, 4 stations (with 2 more planned in the west it would be 25.67 km), opened on June 28, 2012 as an express line connecting the main lines of the system with the new Kunming Changshui International Airport. But the two intermediate stations between East Bus Station and the Airport Center will not open at first.^[1] Tangzi Xiang (Alley, transfer with line 2) -- Juhua—East Bus Stn—Dabanqiao—Jichang Qian (Airport Front) -- Jichang Zhongxin (Airport Center)

(Chinese: 塘子巷 - 菊华 - 东部汽车站 - 大板桥 - 机场前 - 机场中心)

Under construction[edit]

Kunming Rail Transit current construction plans

The first phase will consist of lines 1, 2, 3, and 6. All station names that are included in phase 1 has been confirmed.^[5]

Line 1[edit]

Line 1 will be 41.4 km long with 25 stations, running from Kunming city centre to the University City. It will consist of underground segments in Kunming and Chenggong and an elevated segment connecting the two. Attractions served will include Kunming Railway Station, Century City, Guandu Old Town, and Sports City.

Phase 1 North section (under construction): Huancheng South Rd, Kunming Railway Staion, Fude, Rixin Rd, Wujiaba, Changhong West Rd, Xiaodongcun

(Chinese: 环城南路 - 昆明火车站 - 福德 - 日新路 - 巫家坝 - 昌宏西路 - 晓东村)

Phase 2 (planned): 2nd Ring North Rd, Hongshan East Rd, Kunming West Station Junction, Panjiawan (transfer with Line 3), Milesi, Jinbi Square, Deshengqiao (partially under construction with Phase 1 to avoid traffic chaos in the future) -- Huanchen South Rd

Line 2[edit]

Line 2 (from north to south): 22.8 km, 22 stations Phase 1 (u/c): North Coach Station, Longtou St, Sijiaying, Yangchangcun, Linyuqiao, Beichen, Jinxing, Baiyun Rd, Kunming North Railway Station, Chuanxin Gulou, Jiaosanqiao, Dongfeng Square (transfer with line 3), Tangzi Xiang (Alley, transfer with line 6 in the future) -- Huanchen South Rd.

(Chinese: 北部汽车站 - 龙头街 - 司家营 - 羊肠村 - 霖雨桥 - 北辰 - 金星 - 白云路 - 火车北站 - 穿心鼓楼 - 交三桥 - 东风广场 - 塘子巷 - 环城南路)

Phase 2 (planned): Huanchen Nanlu—Kunming Railway Stn—Nanba—Rixin Lu (Rd) -- Yiyuan Xiaoqu—Guangfu Lu (Rd) -- Liujia—Gongjia Cun (Village) -- Suwang Cun (Village)

(Chinese: 环城南路 - 昆明火车站 - 南坝 - 日新路 - 怡园小区 - 广福路 - 六甲 - 龚家村 - 苏王村)

Line 3[edit]

Line 3 (from west to east): 17.99 km, 17 stations Shizui, Dayu Rd, West Bus Station, Mianshan, Changyuan Middle Rd, Xiyuan, Liangjia He, City Sports Centre, Panjiawan (transfer to Line 1 Phase 2), Wuyi Rd -- Dongfeng Square (transfer with line 2), Tuodong Sports Centre, Dashuying, Jinmasi, Taipingcun, Hongqiao, East Bus Station

(Chinese: 石咀 - 大渔路 - 西部汽车站 - 眠山 - 昌源中路 - 西苑 - 梁家河 - 市体育馆 - 潘家湾 - 五一路 - 东风广场 - 拓东体育馆 - 大树营 - 金马寺 - 太平村 - 虹桥 - 东部汽车站)

Planned[edit]

• Line 4 will complement line 1 by connecting Kunming's north and east with Chenggong New Town.

• Line 5 will act as a feeder running from the southwest to the northeast.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kunming Metro

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

• http://news.kunming.cn/km-news/content/2009-06/29/content_1907733.htm
• http://www.yn.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2010-05/04/content_19686207.htm

External links[edit]

• Kunming Rail Transit Official Website
• UrbanRail page on Kunming Rail
• Photogalleries [1], [2], [3], [4]

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