A round up of Shanghai metro news!

1. Metro Line 11 and the eastern extension to Line 9 opened on December 31st. Both have limited opening times initially. Check www.exploreshanghai.com for all the details, including first and last train times, and journey planning/prices for the new lines.
2. Metro Line 6 now has longer opening times! Trains leave Gangcheng Road between 5:36 and 22:00 and leave South Lingyan Road between 5:48 and 22:12.
3. Planning to interchange Line 9 and Line 1 at Xujiahui? You’ll have a long walk for now. The planned interchange passageway is not open yet, so for now you’ll need to leave the station and re-enter. This is free with a Shanghai Public Transportation Card
4. The Shanghai Metro Company have launched a new “traffic light” system for the network. Green shows trains are operating normally, yellow shows delays, red shows serious issues/shutdowns. You can check the current state of the network here
5. Later in January, Jiyang Road station will open, providing an interchange between line 6 and line 8 (see below). You won’t be able to access the station from ground level, only interchange.

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With the Shanghai World Expo just months away, several new lines will be opening up over the next few months! We’re already seen Line 7 enter trial operation, and the next two lines to open are the extension to Line 9, and the brand new Line 11.

The opening date is December 31st, but we thought we’d give you a sneak preview now! Both lines will initially run for trial operation between approximately 9am and 4.30pm.

Line 9 (colored light blue) currently runs from Songjiang in western Shanghai to Yishan Road. The new extension will add 9 new stations, including key interchanges with Line 1 at Xujiahui, Line 7 at Zhaojiabang Road, Line 8 at Lujiabang Road, and a mammoth four-line interchange at Century Avenue where lines 2,4,6, and 9 will now intersect! The station at Madang Road will also be important for the Expo, as you’ll be able to pass through security checks there, then board Line 13 straight into the EXPO Zone!

Line 11 (colored dark brown) starts from Jiangsu Road on Line 2, then heads northwest past Shanghai West Railway Station. Later in 2010, a branch line will open to the Shanghai F1 Circuit and Anting. Initially only the line towards North Jiading will be open.

Check out the map below for the locations of the new lines.

Note, as mentioned above, the opening times are limited initially, and will be extended gradually over the next few months. Also, for changing between lines 1 and 9 at Xujiahui, initially you will need to exit the fare-gates and re-enter. This is free if you have a Shanghai Public Transportation Card.

Expect an update to exploreshanghai.com very soon with the new lines!