Chongqing - “With the completion and opening of the northern extension section of Rail Line 5, Chongqing’s rail transit is about to exceed 500 kilometers, ranking 8th in the nation," said Yue Shun, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Chongqing Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Committee.
“Chongqing Rail Transit has invested nearly 320 billion yuan (about USD 46.41 billion), and the number of operating routes has increased to 12 lines,” Yue added. "Chongqing has built the world's largest rail transit operation network in mountainous cities."
As the first city in the western region to start rail transit construction, Chongqing has built a relatively mature rail transit system, which provides convenient and fast travel services for citizens.
Chongqing Rail Transit Line 6. (Photo / Chongqing Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Committee)
Rail transit can empower the development of industries
According to Yue, there are currently 284 rail transit stations in Chongqing, spanning key stations such as the airport, high-speed rail stations, major business districts, and large residential communities.
The number of people traveling by rail transit has increased yearly, with a cumulative passenger capacity of 8.37 billion. In 2022, passenger capacity had reached 910 million, accounting for 42% of public transport trips.
Yue also said that Chongqing has always adhered to the concept of “building a rail transit is building a city.”
The construction of rail transit can guide the development of industries and build an environment of efficient interaction and coordinated development of “rail, city, industry.”
For example, Chongqing Rail Transit has connected Longsheng New City, Auto Exhibition Center, Jiangjin Shuang Fu New District, and other areas to support the construction of a billion-level industrial cluster of intelligent connected new energy vehicles.
Connecting Xiyong Microelectronics Industrial Park, Chongqing Jiangbei Airport Industrial Park, Lijia Smart Park, and other areas, the city also aims to support the construction of a billion-level industrial cluster of electronic information manufacturing.
Chongqing Rail Transit Line 10. (Photo / Chongqing Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Committee)
To fully support the efficient gathering of two billion-level industries and smooth travel of tens of millions of residents, Chongqing Rail Transit also plans to achieve a “one-hour commuting circle” in the main urban area of Chongqing by 2035.
Chongqing plans to extend the urban (suburban) railway line C1 (Chongqing to Hechuan line) to Guang’an, a prefecture-level city in Sichuan, to strengthen the connection between Sichuan and Chongqing and support the joint development of adjacent areas.
Integrating Guang’an into Chongqing’s metropolitan area and building a cooperation demonstration zone of Sichuan-Chongqing, both regions will promote the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle through the upgraded rail transit network.