ERA OF MASS TRANSIT DAWNS IN CHINA

Chinese urban transport planners warn that an insufficient, inefficient transport system will severely limit China's social and economic development, and that mass transit railways are the only answer to China's chronic urban street congestion. China is the world's largest market for urban rail transport, because its urban population is expanding very fast. Already, nearly 40 of its cities have populations over 1M and eight have populations over 3M. About 33 metro and light rail lines of total length 650km could be constructed early in the 21st century. This article discusses some of these developments and includes maps of the routes that are now open, under construction, and planned in the cities of Beijing and Shanghai. In Beijing, metro construction is at present behind schedule, due to shortage of capital for construction, but its network will eventually be the longest. Shanghai currently has one completed line and two more under construction. Only two other Chinese cities, Tianjin and Guangzhou, yet have metros. However, in the longer term, Chinese economic advancement will be accompanied by greater urbanisation, which will make mass transit development even more urgent. Improved suburban transport is already desperately needed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07445326
• Corporate Authors:

  Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

  345 Hudson Street
  New York, NY  United States  10014
• Publication Date: 1999-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 35-8
• Serial:
  • International Railway Journal
  • Volume: 39
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0744-5326

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Financing; Itinerary; Maps; Planning; Population; Public transit; Railroad tracks; Rapid transit; Subways; Transportation; Trolley cars; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Increase
• Geographic Terms: China
• ITRD Terms: 8023: China; 3655: Construction; 244: Financing; 9032: Increase; 699: Itinerary; 4074: Map; 143: Planning; 335: Population; 744: Public transport; 1181: Rapid transit system; 1284: Tram; 1155: Transport; 1191: Underground railway; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Construction; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00766920
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 2 1999 12:00AM