The Chengdu Metro is the rapid transit system of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, China. With the opening of Line 1 on 27 September 2010, the system had thirteen subway lines and one light rail line. It has subsequently undergone rapid expansion. Since the opening of Lines 6, 8, 9, and 17 on 18 December 2020, the Chengdu Metro is the 4th longest metro system in the world. There are currently 13 operating subway lines totaling 558.1 km of track, and 1 tram line (Line T2). The Chengdu Metro serves over 8 million trips per day. As of 2021, about 2.2 million and 4.6 million people live within 500 and 800 m of a subway station in Chengdu, respectively.

Operating network

There are 14 subway lines operating currently, covering 596.8 km with 342 stations and a light rail line with 36 stop (Line T2) operating, covering 39.3 km.

Line 1

The first phase of Line 1 cost 7 billion yuan to construct. A natural ventilation system has been used in the underground section of Line 1 on the subway system from Southern Third Ring Road to Jincheng Plaza Station. Square ventilation units are built every 30 m along the subway top to allow fresh air from the ground enter the construction site underground. The method is used in subway construction in other countries as it cuts the construction cost and it saves energy. The subway system is the first in China to adopt such a ventilation system during construction. Chengdu Metro is planning to set up a section for subway fire control and introduce the latest fire fighting technologies and vehicles. Line 1's color is <span style="color:#;">dark blue.

Line 2

Line 2 is a crosstown northwest–southeast trunk route. This line serves the Chengdu East railway station. Line 2 began operation on 16 September 2012. An 11 km long mostly elevated extension to Longquanyi began testing in April 2014 opened in October 2014. It total it is currently 42.32 km long. Line 2's color is <span style="color:#;">orange.

Line 3

Line 3 runs in a northeast–southwest direction from Chengdu Medical College to Shuangliu West Station. The total length is 49.85 km. Phase 1 of this line began construction on 28 April 2012, and opened on 31 July 2016. It was Chengdu's final line to use the lower capacity type B trains, subsequent lines favoring the longer and wider Type A cars. Line 3's color is <span style="color:#;">magenta.

Line 4

Line 4 is the third line to enter revenue service on the metro network in Chengdu, Sichuan. Line 4 runs in an east–west direction, stretching from Wansheng in Wenjiang to Xihe in the Longquanyi. The first phase started construction on 22 July 2011, and began operation on 26 December 2015. Testing began on the east of west extensions of Line 4 as part of Phase II expansion on 10 December 2016. Line 4's color is <span style="color:#;">green.

Line 5

Line 5 is a crosstown north–south trunk line. Despite being numbered such, it was the seventh line to open, having started operation on 27 December 2019. Line 5's color is <span style="color:#;">purple.

Line 6

Line 6 is a crosstown northwest–south-west pivotal line. It is the second longest metro line in Chengdu and the longest non-branching line in China at 68.88 km (with Chengdu Line 18 being in first place for both). It has more stations than any other metro line in China, with 54 currently plus two more infill stations coming later. It is one of the four lines to have started operation on 18 Dec 2020. Line 6's color is <span style="color:#;">brown.

Line 7

Line 7 is a 38.61 km loop line which runs around downtown Chengdu. Despite the number, it was actually the sixth line to open, having started operation on 6 December 2017. Line 7's color is <span style="color:#;">sky blue.

Line 8

Line 8 is a 29.1 km crosstown northeast–southwest filling line. Phase 1 started operation on 18 Dec 2020, the same day as lines 6, 9, and 18. Line 8's color is <span style="color:#;">chartreuse.

Line 9

Line 9 will be the system's second circle line when it is completed. It is the first driverless metro line in Mid/West China. Phase 1 started operation on 18 Dec 2020. Line 9's color is <span style="color:#;">bright orange.

Line 10

Line 10 is a 39.972 km line serving Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. It started operation on 6 September 2017. It was also the first line to use the higher-capacity type A trains. Line 10's color is <span style="color:#;">blue.

Line 17

Line 17 is a 26.15 km metro line at west side of Chengdu. Phase 1, including phase 1 of line 19, started operation on 18 Dec 2020. Like line 18 is uses a special variant of Type A trains with one less door per side and using 25 kV AC overhead power, as opposed to the "standard" 1500 V DC most newer metros in China use. Line 17's color is <span style="color:#;">pale green.

Line 18

Line 18 is the first express subway line in the city. It parallels the southern section of Line 1 serving Tianfu New Area. It started operation on 27 September 2020. Phase 2 started operation on 18 Dec 2020. At 69.39 km, it is the third longest metro line in China after Chongqing Line 6 being the longest and Shanghai Line 11 in second place. It is still however the longest line that does not have any branches. Like line 17, it uses a special variant of Type A trains with one less door per side and using 25 kV AC overhead power. Line 18's color is <span style="color:#;">teal.

Line 19

Line 19 is the express subway line linking Shuangliu International Airport and Tianfu International Airport. It partly shares the track with Line 18 between Tianfu Station and Tianfu Airport North. It started operation on 22 September 2023.

Line S3

Line S3 is the express subway line linking Futian in Jianyang, Chengdu to Ziyang North Railway Station along the Chengdu-Chongqing Intercity Railway in Ziyang. It is Chengdu’s first intercity rapid transit line. It started operation on 29 September 2024.

Tram Line 2

Chengdu Tram Line 2 has 39.3 km of operating tracks and 35 stations (47 when fully completed). The line uses low-floor trams derived from the Alstom Citadis. Tram Line 2's color is light green.

History

Inception

In 1985, the Chengdu Planning Bureau set up an integrated transportation planning office which began the process of the planning for a rapid transit network for Chengdu. By 1992, a proposal for the subway was sent to the National Planning Commission and was subsequently rejected. In 2004 before the approval of the National Development and Reform Commission Chengdu started reconstructing Tianfu Square with provisions for Tianfu Square station. The first phase of Chengdu Metro, consisting of Lines 1 and 2, were approved by the NDRC on 11 September 2005.

First phase projects

2005

2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Second phase projects

2009

2014

2015

2017

2018

2019

2020

2022

Third phase projects

2016

2017

2019

2020

Fourth phase projects

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Fifth phase projects

2023

Network expansion

Lines under construction

Chengdu had built about 291 km of subway lines in 2020. In 2017, the construction of the first phases of Lines 8, 9, 11, 17 and Line 10 (Phase 2) started, the length of subway under construction in Chengdu totaling 400 km. It is expected by the end of 2020, Lines 6, 8, 9, 17 and 18 will open. Extending the Chengdu Metro network to 518.5 km of route (excluding Chengdu Tram).

Phase 5

The Chengdu Metro Phase 5 construction plan (2024-2029) was announced in 2023.

Long-term planning

In December 2020, Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources announced the long-term planning including Lines 1-33, D1-D6 and S1-S19.

Fares

Single ride card

Single Ride Card is an IC card for one trip. Riders can buy it through attendants in station's Service Centers or use ticket-vending machines. One ticket allows only one rider in with validity of the same day. If riders have not used the Single Ride Card, they may refund it at the same day at the same station. From its opening until 1 June 2017, Chengdu Metro used a fare system based on station counts. With a 2-hour grace period in the subway system. In October 2016, Chengdu Metro held public meeting for price changing issues and set new pricing plans. From 2 June 2017, Chengdu Metro starts new fare system based on distance.

Reloadable IC cards

The Tianfutong Pass is a reloadable IC Card accepted by the Chengdu Metro. Normal Tianfutong Passes provide 10% discounts. Student Tianfutong Passes provide 50% discounts. Senior Tianfutong Passes have special discounts depending on time of use. Additionally, passengers can pay for single rides directly using Debit IC cards offered by participating banks.

Train types and technology

All "standard" Chengdu Metro lines in operation run on 1,500 V DC supplied by overhead lines. Express lines meanwhile run on 25 kV AC to get to top speed quicker. Trains on Lines 3, 4, 7, 10 and some of the newer Line 2 trains have a Golden Sun Bird insignia. New trains are equipped with LCD passenger information systems.

Signalling system

All Chengdu Metro lines are equipped with CBTC. Chengdu Metro Line 1, which opened to traffic in 2010, used a CBTC signaling system provided by Zhejiang Zhonghe Technology, a subsidiary of Zhejiang University, in collaboration with Ansaldo STS. This system is also used on Chengdu Metro Line 6 and 10. Chengdu Metro Line 3, which opened in 2016, was one of the first adoptions of a domestic CBTC signal system implementation by Beijing Traffic Control Technology. Beijing Traffic Control Technology's CBTC system is also used in Line 5. Alstom's Urbalis 888 CBTC signal system in collaboration with CASCO is used on Line 18, 19, Chengdu Light Rail Line 2 and the fully automated GoA4 Line 9.

Type A trains

In response to congestion and high ridership, Lines 7, 8 and 10 are equipped with higher capacity 6-car aluminum alloy Type A trains. The total length of 140 m and width is 3 m. All trains have a maximum operating speed of 80 km/h. The capacity of a 6-car train is 1,828 passengers with a crush load capacity of 2,488 passengers. Line 7 trains are designed and managed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang with CRRC Chengdu performing manufacturing and assembly. Lines 5, 6 and 9 are equipped with even higher capacity eight car aluminum alloy Type A trains. The capacity of an eight car trainset is 2,480 passengers with a crush load capacity of 3,456 passengers.

Type B trains

Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4 use six car stainless steel Type B trains with a total length of 120 m and width 2.8 m. The capacity of each train set is 1,460 people with a crush load capacity of 1,880 passengers. All trains have a maximum operating speed of 80 km/h. Lines 1 and 2 use CRRC Qingdao Sifang and CRRC Chengdu trains. Trains on Line 3 and 4 are manufactured by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and CRRC Chengdu. In 2008, Chengdu Metro in anticipation of the opening of Line 1, purchased and initial order of 17 six car trains sets from CRRC Qingdao Sifang. In April 2011, a further order was announced for trains from CRRC for Line 2, taking the total to 59 six car sets.

Light rail trains

Currently, only Chengdu Light Rail Line 2 is in operation. Light Rail Line 2 uses low floor light rail trains provided by domestic manufacturer CRRC. The tram system uses light rail trains, of each having 5 cars and 8 doors. Chengdu Light Rail Line R2 opened to public on 26 December 2018 and extended on 27 December 2019. It is 39.3 km long, with 35 stations (47 station when completed). In early 2020, this line is included in the latest Chengdu Metro's official system map.

Other rail transit

High-speed intercity rail

There are also two high-speed intercity railways in Chengdu, not part of Chengdu Metro system: the Chengdu–Dujiangyan intercity railway and Chengdu–Pujiang intercity railway. They are operated by Chengdu Metropolitan Railway Company Limited, which is China's first joint venture between a local government and China's national rail operator. The city and the Ministry of Railways worked together in building high-speed intercity rail lines.

Network map