Detailed answer to the models of China's urban rail transit vehicles

Did you know that despite starting later, China's urban rail transit has now become the country with the longest operational mileage globally, accounting for about 48.6%, nearly half of the world's total? 

Urban rail transit train model refers to the type of high-capacity train vehicles used in urban rail transit (mainly subway and light rail). Generally speaking, there is no uniform standard for rail transit models around the world. It is often determined by the passenger flow and construction tradition in different places, and customized according to standards.

Chinese mainland Large-capacity urban rail transit systems are primarily categorized into subway systems using A, B, As, Ah, and Lb type vehicles, light rail systems using C and LC type vehicles, and urban rail vehicles classified as Urban Type A, Urban Type B, Urban Type C (CRH6 is classified as Urban Type C according to the 'Urban (Suburban) Railway Design Code'), and Urban Type D, as summarized in the table below.

Source: Wikipedia

According to the construction standard 104-2008 "Urban Rail Transit Engineering Construction Standard", the main technical specifications of all kinds of vehicles should comply with the following provisions.

Source: Construction Standards for Urban Rail Transit Engineering Projects

Type A vehicles:

Shanghai Metro Line 11

The A-type train is the largest in width and passenger capacity among subway train models, making it particularly suitable for use in megacities with high population density and heavy traffic. When operating in a 6-car formation, it can handle 50,000 to 70,000 passengers per hour in one direction, ideal for transporting large crowds within urban areas, with a line length of approximately 30 km. The operational speed levels for different lines are 80km/h, 100km/h, and 120km/h.

Line example:

Beijing Subway: Line 3, Line 11, Line 12, Line 14, Line 16, Line 17, Line 19

Shanghai Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 7, Line 9, Line 10, Line 11, Line 12, Line 13, Line 14, Line 16 [Note 7], Line 17

Guangzhou Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 8, Line 11, Line 12, Line 13

Nanjing Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 10

Shenzhen Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 4, Line 5, Line 6, Line 7, Line 8, Line 9, Line 10, Line 11, Line 12, Line 13, Line 14, Line 15, Line 16, Line 18, Line 20, Line 21, Line 22

Wuhan Metro: Line 5, Line 6, Line 7, Line 8, Line 10, Line 11, Line 12, Yangluo Line

Chengdu Metro: Line 5, Line 6, Line 7, Line 8, Line 9, Line 10

Hangzhou Metro: Line 7, Line 8, Line 10

Shijiazhuang Metro: Line 1, Line 3

Urumqi Metro: Line 1

Changsha Metro: Line 6

Zhengzhou Metro: Line 5

#Type B vehicles:

Beijing Subway Line 1, B1 type vehicle

Nanjing Metro Line 4, B2 type

The B-type train is the most widely used subway model, suitable for urban rail transit systems with medium to high passenger volumes. 

Line example: B1 type vehicle (this model is powered by the third rail)

Beijing Subway: Line 1, Line 2, Line 4, Line 5, Line 7, Line 8, Line 9, Line 10, Line 13, Line 15, Daxing Line, Fangshan Line, Batong Line, Yizhuang Line, Changping Line, Yanfang Line

Tianjin Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3

Wuhan Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4

Shenzhen Metro: Line 3

Guangzhou Metro: Line 14, Line 21

Kunming Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 6

Qingdao Metro: Line 2, Line 3, Line 11 and Line 13

Wuxi Metro: Line 1, Line 2

Line example: B2 type vehicle (this model is powered by overhead contact line)

Beijing subway: Line 6

Tianjin Metro: Line 4, Line 5, Line 6, Line 9, Line 10

Nanjing Metro: Line 4, S1, S3, S7, S8 and S9

Chengdu Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4

Suzhou Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 4

Chongqing rail transit: Line 1, Line 6

Zhengzhou Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 14 and Suburban Line

Xi 'an Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 14

Shaanxi intercity: airport intercity

Shenyang Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 4, Line 9, Line 10

Guangzhou Metro: Lines 3, 7, 9, 10,14 and 21

Guangfo Metro: Guangfo Line

Foshan Metro: Line 2, Line 3

Hangzhou Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 4, Line 9, Line 16

Shaoxing Metro: Keqiao Line (integrated with Shaoxing Metro Line 1)

Ningbo Metro: Line 1, Line 2

Hefei Metro: Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3

Harbin Metro: Line 1, Line 3

Changchun rail transit: Line 1, Line 2

Changsha Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4, Line 5

Dalian Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 12

Dongguan Metro: Line 2

Fuzhou Metro: Line 1

Guiyang rail transit: Line 1

Nanchang subway: Line 1, Line 2

Nanning Metro: Line 1, Line 2, Line 3

Xiamen Metro: Line 1

Jinan Metro: Line 1, Line 3

Luoyang Metro: Line 1

#Type A vehicles:

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 5

The Type A car is a new type of car developed on the basis of the standard A/B car to adapt to the actual situation in Chongqing mountain city, such as many slopes, small turning radius and large station burial depth. It has the characteristics of strong climbing ability, good passing ability of small curves and large transportation capacity.

The Type A train has a maximum width of 3 meters and a top operating speed of 100 kilometers per hour. Initially, it will operate in a 5-car motor and 1-trailer configuration, with a maximum capacity of 2,322 passengers; in the near future, it will be upgraded to a 6-car motor and 1-trailer configuration, with a maximum capacity of 2,716 passengers. An 8-car configuration is reserved for future passenger needs, with the specific formation determined by actual demand.

Line example:

Chongqing rail transit: Line 4, Line 5, Line 10, ring line

# Type A vehicles:

Hangzhou Metro Line 5

The Hangzhou Metro model is developed by the Hangzhou Metro. It combines the features of both Type A and Type B trains, designed and manufactured according to international advanced standards. The train features a 4 motor, 2 trailer, 6-car formation with an ultra-wide drum-shaped body structure. It measures 3.08 meters in width and 1.4 meters in door width, with a maximum passenger capacity exceeding 2200 people, which is 110% of that of Type B trains, making it better suited for handling peak-hour passenger flows. The train has a maximum operating speed of 80 kilometers per hour and is characterized by high strength, lightweight body, and low energy consumption, ensuring excellent operational efficiency.

Line example:

Hangzhou Metro: Line 3, Line 5 and Line 6

Type #C vehicles:

Changchun Rail Transit Line 3, type C

Type C vehicles, typically referred to as light rail models, are rarely found on subway lines and are suitable for urban rail transit systems with medium to small passenger volumes. According to Chinese standards, urban rail transit systems that use medium-sized railway systems can carry about 7,000 passengers per hour by streetcars; those capable of handling a maximum one-way peak hour passenger flow of 15,000 to 30,000 people are classified as light rail. When six Type C vehicles are in a formation, the one-way capacity can reach 10,000 to 30,000 passengers per hour, with different line operating speed grades including 80km/h, 100km/h, and 120km/h.

Line example:

Changchun rail transit: Line 3, Line 4, Line 8

Shanghai Metro: Line 5, Line 6, Line 8

# L-type vehicles:

Guangzhou Metro Line 4, Lb type

A medium-capacity urban rail transit system, driven by linear motors and guided by wheel-rail systems. The linear motor system is a specialized system that cannot be used interchangeably with traditional urban subway systems, which is why the L-type trains are currently used on fewer lines. The operational speed levels for different lines are 90km/h and 100km/h. The car body is made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel.

L-type vehicles are suitable for two situations: 1. The construction and erection process of lines with steep slopes and small radii needs to be urgently solved due to the limitation of geological and geomorphological conditions. 2. Suburban lines, airport lines and sightseeing lines are also suitable because they do not meet the requirement that the one-way passenger flow in peak hours does not exceed 30,000 people.

Line example: Lb type vehicle

Guangzhou Metro: Line 4, Line 5, Line 6

Beijing Subway: Capital Airport Line, Line 28

# Overpass monorail vehicle:

Chongqing Rail Transit Line 3, monorail

The overhead single-track train is a medium-capacity urban rail transit system designed for the ground level of urban areas. It uses rubber wheels, which provide strong climbing capabilities and a small turning radius, ensuring that noise and vibration levels are acceptable to nearby residents. The line piers can be installed on the median strips of main roads, minimizing the occupation of ground space. The system has a capacity of 10,000 to 30,000 passengers per hour, with an operating speed of 90km/h.

Line example:

Chongqing rail transit: Line 2, Line 3, airport line

The national standard "General Technical Conditions for Urban Rail Transit City Express Lines 120 km/h ~160 km/h Vehicles" (GB/T 37532-2019), released by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Standardization Administration of China in 2019, clearly defines that city express line vehicles are categorized into three types: City Type A, City Type B, and City Type D. The primary technical specifications for these vehicles are as follows. According to the "Design Code for Urban (Suburban) Railways," CRH6 is classified as a City Type C vehicle.

# City A type vehicle

Chengdu Metro Line 18, urban type A

Line example:

Chengdu Metro: Line 17, Line 18, Line 19

Hangzhou Metro: Airport Express

Fuzhou Metro: Binhai Express Line

Wuhan Metro: Line 16, Line 19 [8]

Shanghai Metro: Chongming Line

* Source: Railway Knowledge Bureau

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