Shenyang Modern Tram

History

After closing tram network in seventies, people of Shenyang thought the only un fashioned obstacle of smooth city traveling has removed, and the city can move faster than before, but it proved false some years later. Uncontrolled increasing of petrol vehicles like bus, taxicab, and private car started chocking the streets of Shenyang. Like most Asian countries, China suffered by many problems of developing countries, including pollution, traffic jam, illegal migration, low literacy and booming increasing of population etc. Increasing population started increasing urbanization of Shenyang, and it started increasing motor vehicles, which started increasing air & sound pollution, traffic jam & smog. The city even became slower than pre-tram closure era. From starting '80, all this problems started and at mid '90, inhabitants of Shenyang realized that non-controlling of motor vehicles & closure of tram was a great mistake. Many cities around the world like Tunis, Algiers, Oran, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Pyongyang, Dublin, Edinburgh, Athens, Bergen etc. also understood that error, and like them, two Chinese cities Tianjin & Shanghai also returned tram. Mainly looking Tianjin & Shanghai, Shenyang also planned for return of tram.

Understanding the great mistake of former tram closure, government started to decrease pollution as soon as possible. Looking many cities around the world i.e. – Algiers, Buenos Aires, Athens, Pyongyang, Tianjin, Shanghai etc., authority planned to return trams in Shenyang. But then number of cars & buses had already increased very much in Downtown Shenyang, so opening a tramway system were not possible there. Minding this, transport authority decided to construct it in the south of Hun He, which is in southern side of the main city. Shenyang's transport authority at last decided to open a separate, modern, high speed partly battery powered tram.

December 1, 2011, Shenyang City, announced plans to open five lines in March 2012 to build "Hunnan modern streetcar project" plan, a total length of 65 km, in April 2013 trial run, June 2013 officially put into use . February 17, 2012, the project started construction, according to the revised timetable on the progress of the project groundbreaking ceremony, Shenyang new tram system will be test run in March 2013, the formal operation in June, a construction line Save of four, full-length was reduced to about 60 kilometres. tramways actual passenger test run on August 15, September 15 official ticketing operation. The line is operated by Shenyang Hunnan Modern Transportation Operations Limited.

The new system was chosen for south Shenyang, because it is a less congested and planned area, and commuting between one place to another in that area has become a serious problem. It was selected as a partly battery operated system, because it will reduce use of overhead-wire, which makes an eyesore for some people. Another advantage of this type of tram is they will utilize much less electricity for using recharged battery, so it will reduce production of electricity lesser in power station, so it is more eco-friendly.

Timeline

Features

The entire Shenyang Modern tram network is a hybrid type. It runs partly on unreserved grooved-rail track, shared with other vehicles, partly runs on unreserved segregated track with raised rail, like mainline railway in which it is completely separated from other vehicles. In some parts it also runs on a reserved grassy track. Some area is overhead wire free, especially near the Airport due to safety concerns of aircraft; some city places are wire-free as well. At those areas, tramcars stop for 30 seconds, and at times they rise their pantographs towards overhead charging caternary. After charging the battery this way, they start moving again towards the next stop, where they would recharge again.

Tickets

The implementation of a single one-way fare as 2 Yuan. Tram payment are tentative to two kinds, cash and IC card.

Tram routes

Network info

Depots & termini

The only tram depot is at Hunnan. Termini are Olympic Centre, Shenfu Xincheng, Expo Centre and Taoxian Airport.

Alignment and interchanges

The modern tram routes partly run on unreserved track at middle of the road, partly on grass-bed, partly on raised rail track.

There are interchanges with Shenyang Metro Line 2 – one at Aoizhongxin, the other at Baitahelu.

Rolling stock

The 30 low-floor trams are manufactured by Voith, together with the Chinese manufacturer Changchun Railway Vehicles Company. All trams are low floor, fully air conditioned, can run high speed. Each tram has three cars. It takes electricity via pantograph.

Projects

Line 3 is under construction. It will run from Century Building (where interchange will be possible with a Subway Line 2 station Shijidasha) to Expo Centre via University Science City. At North-Eastern University it will meet with Line 1. This new route is expected to open in 2016.

Criticism

The modern tram of Shenyang is very popular & useful for daily passengers & inhabitants of South Shenyang. It's great looking impresses very much about citizens. Although some criticize that it is a bit expensive due to partly wire-free section. It is a great example that a modern tram network is completely alternation of a metro network where population density is lower, roads are wider.

Incidents and Accidents