Wuhan opens first phase of longest orbital metro

In the Chinese city of Wuhan, metro line 12 was opened on 1 May. At present this is a 35.3km line linking Gangduhuayuan and Moshuihu Park via Wuchang Railway Station, through 23 stations in the city’s southern suburbs, but this is just the first part of an orbital metro that the city claims will be the longest in the world. Phase 2, due to open before the end of 2026, will add a further 24.6km and 14 more stations. At first 43 six-car trains are in service, but this will rise to 79 when phase 2 opens. The 80km/h trains are equipped for GoA4 level automation and can each carry 1836 passengers. The project is a PPP scheme implemented on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis involving China Railway Development & Investment Group and China Railway Construction Investment Group. 

 

Wuhan started metro operation in July 2004 and has now expanded to 553km with 335 stations. About 1.5bn passengers/year are carried. The city also started tramway operation in 2017, and has two separate systems totalling 49km, functioning as feeders to the metro.