CHINA: The third line of Changchun’s light rail network opened on October 30. Line 8 runs north from the northern terminus of metro Line 1 at North Ring Road to Guangtong Road.
Services on the elevated 13·3 km route with 12 stops run every 10 min from 06.00 to 21.00, offering an end-to-end journey time of 28 min.
CRRC Changchun supplied a fleet of six-section Type C light rail vehicles, which are stabled at a depot at Taiping depot near the northern end of the route. They have capacity for 622 passengers, including 124 on seats which are heated to provide greater comfort in the city’s cold winters. The LRVs draw power at 750 V DC and have a maximum operating speed of 70 km/h.
Construction started in April 2014 and was undertaken by China Railway Electrification Bureau.
The second phase would extend the route by 27·6 km from Guangtong Road to Mishazizhen, adding nine stops.
