Line 3 is a north–south line of the Shanghai Metro network. Its current rolling stock, 03A01, carry a bright yellow colour belt to differentiate them from Line 4 trains which share a portion of its route, while the newer stock, 03A02, features a yellow and purple livery, which the exact line is labelled using sticker or screens saying "Line 3" or "Line 4". Unlike the majority of the lines in the Shanghai Metro system, Line 3 is primarily elevated, entirely above ground except for, located at the entrance to Baosteel Group Corporation. The line runs from in the north to in the southwest of the city, where it meets line 1. While line 1 goes straight through the city center, line 3 roughly follows the Inner Ring Road around the city from to (where it turns eastwards to join the route of the Shanghai–Nanjing railway). The line has about 300 drivers. Between December 26, 2000, and August 8, 2002, the line operated under the name Pearl Line; On August 8, 2002, it was renamed as Rail Transit Line 3. The line is colored yellow on system maps.

History

This line followed the route of historic railway lines Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway Inner Circle Line from Shanghai South Railway Station to Shanghai Railway Station, and Songhu Railway from Baoshan Road station to Jiangwan Town station. In October 2006, according to a new naming scheme, East Wenshui Road station was renamed Dabaishu station. The scheme stressed naming stations after existing toponyms, sights and attractions (if any) rather than simply after neighbouring vertical streets, making it easier for visitors to find these places. In this particular case, the renaming aimed also to eliminate possible confusion between Wenshui East Road and Wenshui Road, a newer station of line 1. However, in a more recent case, the same type of confusion occurred at West Yingao Road station of line 3 and East Yingao Road station of line 10.

Stations

Service routes

Important stations

Headways

Because of Baoshan Road station - Hongqiao Road station section is covered with line 4 service, line 3 operates on a comparatively looser schedule, with an average interval of around 7 minutes (5 minutes in the peak hours). However, riders can expect a 2-minute train interval at any one of the shared-line stations during rush hour. Line 3 trains have the number "3" painted on the sides of cars, and line 4 trains the number "4". During trail operation, headways were 30 minutes, reduced to 15 minutes in September 2001. The line was extremely popular with 15,000 passengers on the first day and 30,000 after three day. Not all trains serve the whole line. Some trains terminate at Changjiang South Road, while others continue to Jiangyang North Road, the northernmost station. Therefore, service between Changjiang South Road and Jiangyang North Road operates on a 10-to-12-minute basis, compared to the rest of the line which operates on a 5-to-7-minute basis. An LED screen in front of a train will indicate its terminal station, in addition to the station broadcast and the arrival board. Because line 3 is elevated, transferring to other underground stations typically takes more walking. In-system transfer has been introduced to all interchange stations except Shanghai Railway Station (where lines 3 and 4 meets line 1). Virtual interchange is offered at both stations for Public Transportation Card holders.

Technology

Signaling

Line 3 has been operating over capacity due to large passenger flows for a number of years. With the continuous extensions of operating time, the problems of aging equipment and increasing passenger demand will further increase the operating pressure of the two lines. In June 2021 it was announced that Shanghai Metro has started to update of the signal system and finish before December 31, 2024. These are the last lines in the system that are equipped with fixed block Alstom URBALISTM 200 system, not equipped with CBTC systems capable of headways as low as 90 seconds. CASCO successfully won the bid for the renewal and transformation of the signaling using Qiji TACS system.

Rolling Stock

Currently, 13 04A02 trains (set 0437-0449) are assigned to line 3. All are Class A 6 cars in length.