Category Archives: newlines

Shanghai Metro Pujiang Line to open

UPDATE: Looks like we jumped the gun and this line won’t open until early 2018. See our updated blog post for more details

We’re rounding out 2017 with a preview of the new lines expected to open in China before the end of the year. Typically new lines open in the last few days of December, and details about the exact timetables and station details are only announced on opening day.

Today we have a sneak preview of the new Pujiang Line in Shanghai. It’s an unusual line – an automated, driverless rubber-tyred metro line or “automated people mover”, more commonly used to shuttle passengers between airport terminals.

It was originally planned as a southern extension to Line 8, now it is a separate line passengers will transfer to Line 8 at Shendu Highway station.

Updates to our metro maps online, for Android and for iOS are rolling out by the end of the year.

 

Shanghai Metro Line 9 Eastern Extension to open

We’re rounding out 2017 with a preview of the new lines expected to open in China before the end of the year. Typically new lines open in the last few days of December, and details about the exact timetables and station details are only announced on opening day.

Today we have a sneak preview of the Line 9 eastern extension in Shanghai. Line 9, which first opened in 2007, will be extended 9 stops deeper into Pudong from the current terminus at Middle Yanggao Road, terminating at Caolu. There is also a handy interchange with Line 12 at Jinhai Road.

Updates to our metro maps online, for Android and for iOS are rolling out by the end of the year.

 

Shanghai Metro Line 17 to open

We’re rounding out 2017 with a preview of the new lines expected to open in China before the end of the year. Typically new lines open in the last few days of December, and details about the exact timetables and station details are only announced on opening day.

Today we have a sneak preview of the new Line 17 in Shanghai. Line 17 should dramatically improve connectivity in Qingpu District. Line 17 starts at Hongqiao Railway Station before heading west into Qingpu.

There is a stop at famous water town Zhujiajiao, with the terminus of the line at Oriental Land.

View of Zhujiajiao – Will Clayton, CC-BY

Updates to our metro maps online, for Android and for iOS are rolling out by the end of the year.

 

Beijing Subway Yanfang Line to open

We’re rounding out 2017 with a preview of the new lines expected to open in China before the end of the year. Typically new lines open in the last few days of December, and details about the exact timetables and station details are only announced on opening day.

Today we have a sneak preview of the new Yanfang Line in Beijing.

The Yanfang Line is located in the southwest of Beijing in Fangshan District. It will connect with the existing Fangshan Line at Yancun East station.

The terminus of the line at Yanshan is more than 42km from Tian’anmen! As the tendrils of the Beijing Subway snake ever further from the city center, some extremely long routes are possible. For example the shortest journey from Yanshan to Fengbo on Line 15 would take over three hours with five changes!

Updates to our metro maps online, for Android and for iOS are rolling out by the end of the year.

Beijing Subway Xijiao line to open

We’re rounding out 2017 with a preview of the new lines expected to open in China before the end of the year. Typically new lines open in the last few days of December, and details about the exact timetables and station details are only announced on opening day.

Today we have a sneak preview of the new Xijiao Line in Beijing.

Formerly known as the Western Suburban Line, this will be a light rail line located in Haidian District. It will be convenient for tourists, with stops close to the Summer Palace, Botanical Gardens and Xiangshan (Fragrant Hills).

By N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0

The Xijiao Line connects to the rest of the network at Line 10’s Bagou station.

Updates to our metro maps online, for Android and for iOS are rolling out by the end of the year.

 

Tuas West Extension opens in Singapore

The Tuas West Extension has opened in Singapore, adding four new stations on to the Western end of the East-West line. The new stations are Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road and Tuas Link.

The 7.5km above-ground extension was first announced in 2011, and will increase connectivity to the Tuas area. Tuas Link station is close to Tuas Checkpoint, for access to the Malaysia–Singapore Second Link.

We’ve updated our online map at www.exploresg.com as well as our Explore Singapore Android app and Explore Singapore iOS app with details of the new stations, first/last train times and journey fares.

Subway Line 16 opens in Beijing

The northern section of Line 16 has opened in Beijing, bringing the total number of lines in Beijing to 18, with a total route length of 574km. Line 16 connects Xiyuan on Line 4 with Bei’anhe, in Haidian District. In the future Line 16 will stretch as far as 48 km, from Bei’anhe south to Xiaoyueyuan near Marco Polo Bridge, in Fengtai District.

The first train leaves Bei’anhe at 5:25 and the last train at 22:30, the first train leaves Xiyuan at 6:00 and the last train at 22:55.

Here’s the map of the new stations:

We’ve updated our online map, updates for our Android and iOS apps are coming soon!

South Island Line opens in Hong Kong

For years the Southern District of Hong Kong has not had any connection to the rest of the territory by MTR. That all changes starting December 28, 2016 with the opening of the South Island Line.

The line is colored green on the map, and connects South Horizons and Lei Tung on the island of Ap Lei Chau, via Wong Chuk Hang and Ocean Park with Admiralty, where passengers can transfer to the Tsuen Wan Line or Island Line.

The entire line uses driverless operation, and should significantly cut travel times from the south of Hong Kong Island.

We’ve updated our online map, Android app and iOS app with the new line!

Kwun Tong Line extended in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong MTR added two new stations today with the opening of the Kwun Tong Line extension. The line now continues past the previous terminus at Yau Ma Tei to Ho Man Tin and Whampoa, providing access to Whampoa Garden.

screen-shot-2016-10-23-at-21-08-23

In the future, Ho Man Tin will be an interchange with the East-West corridor, a merger of the West Rail Line and Ma On Shan Line which will open by 2019.

The new stations are now available on our online Hong Kong MTR map and Android app, and an update for our iPhone app will be available shortly.

MRT Purple Line opens in Bangkok

Bangkok’s newest subway line, the MRT Purple Line opened to the public on Saturday August 6. The new line brings much-needed connectivity to the north of the city, extending 23km from Tao Poon, across the Chao Phraya river at the Phra Nangkhao Bridge, and terminating at Khlong Bang Phai.

Screen Shot 2016-08-07 at 16.08.17

Unfortunately there is not yet an interchange with the existing Blue Line, so at the moment travellers will need to take a free shuttle bus between Tao Poon and Bang Sue, the terminus of the Blue line. There are 15 buses in total, and shuttles will leave every 8 minutes, with the 1km journey taking between 7 and 12 minutes, depending on Bangkok’s notorious traffic.

Fares will cost between 14 to 42 baht.

We’ve updated our online Bangkok metro map with the new line, and updates for our Explore Bangkok iOS app and Explore Bangkok Android app will be available shortly.