Line 8 | |||
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8 | |||
An AC07 series train at Laoximen Station on Line 8.
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Overview | |||
Other name(s) | M8 (planned name) | ||
Type | Rapid transit | ||
System | Shanghai Metro | ||
Status | Extension to South Pujin Road under construction. | ||
Locale | Shanghai, China | ||
Termini |
Shiguang Road Shendu Highway |
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Stations | 30 | ||
Daily ridership | 1.12 million (2017 peak) | ||
Operation | |||
Opened | December 29, 2007 | ||
Operator(s) | Shanghai No.4 Metro Operation Co. Ltd. | ||
Character | Underground and elevated | ||
Technical | |||
Line length | 37.4 km (23.24 mi) | ||
Number of tracks | 2 | ||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
Electrification | Overhead lines (1500 volts) | ||
Operating speed | 80 km/h (49.71 mph) | ||
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Line 8 is a north-south line of the Shanghai Metro network. It runs from Shiguang Road, in Yangpu District to Shendu Highway, in Minhang. The line is colored blue on system maps.
The subway line's first phase began trial operation on September 17, 2007 and officially opened on December 29, 2007, running between Shiguang Road and Yaohua Road. The second phase, from Yaohua Road to Shendu Highway began operation on July 5, 2009.
Two stations opened later than the rest of the line: China Art Museum in September 2012 and Oriental Sports Center opened in April 2011.
Even though Line 8 is a heavy rail rapid transit line, "C size" trains used for light metro lines consisting of 6 or 7 cars are being used throughout the line with platforms built to accommodate up to 8 car trains. Due to the trains relatively smaller loading gauge and capacity compared to "A size" trains used on other Shanghai Metro lines the line is extremely crowded. This has caused much doubt among the public in the Shanghai Metro's ability to accurately predict passenger flows for future lines. It was revealed that line 8 originally was forecasted to have a short term daily ridership of 400,000-500,000 people/day, which warrants the use of larger "A size" trains. This is not surprising given Line 8 is planned to serve some of Shanghai's densest neighborhoods and several major attractions. However the forecast was downgraded to 200,000 people/day which allowed Shanghai Alstom, a company interested in manufacturing and selling "C size" trains in Shanghai, to build trains for line 8. There are no short term solutions to the overcrowding. The loading gauges of "A size" trains are incompatible with "C size" trains but parallel relief bus services have started operating.
On May 4, 2017 it was announced the third phase had been renamed the Pujiang Line, and will be a new 6.689 km long light metro line running from Shendu Highway Station to Huizhen Road Station. It will use rubber tire Bombardier Innova APM 300 technology. On January 13 Bombardier delivered the first out of 44 autonomous people movers to Shanghai. It is expected to open at the end of 2017.