Line 3 (Xi'an Metro)

Line 3 of the Xi'an Metro (Chinese: 西安地铁三号线; pinyin: Xī'ān dìtiě sānhàoxiàn) is a rapid transit line running from northeast to southwest Xi'an, linking Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park in the northwest through Xi'an Economic & Technological Development Zone to Yuhuazhai in the southwest. Line 3 is one of the three lines that form the main framework of Xi'an metro.^[1] Phase 1 of Line 3 was opened on November 8, 2016, with 19 underground stations and 7 overground stations. Phase 2 is still under planning. The line is colored pink on system maps.^[2]

Line 3
3
A train of Xi'an Metro Line 3
Overview
Native name	西安地铁三号线
Status	Operational
Owner	Xi'an Metro Ltd
Locale	Xi'an, Shaanxi
Termini	Yuhuazhai[1] Baoshuiqu[1]
Stations	26[1]
Color on map	Pink[2]
Website	Xi'an Metro
Service
Type	Rapid Transit
System	Xi'an Metro
Services	1
Operator(s)	Xi'an Metro Ltd
Depot(s)	Yuhuazhai Depot and Guoji Gangwuqu Depot[1]
Rolling stock	CNR DKZ17
Daily ridership	854,800 (2021 record)[3]
History
Opened	8 November 2016; 8 years ago (2016-11-08)
Technical
Line length	39.15 km (24.33 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	Underground and overground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	1500 V DC Overhead catenary[4]
Operating speed	80 km/h (maximum), 35 km/h (average)[5]
Route map Legend Yuhuazhai Depot Yuhuazhai Zhangbabeilu Yanpingmen Kejilu Taibainanlu Jixiangcun Xiaozhai  2  Dayanta  4  Beichitou Qinglongsi Yanxingmen (Shapo) Xianninglu Changlegongyuan Tonghuamen  1  Hujimiao Shijiajie Xinjiamiao Guangtaimen Taohuatan Chanbazhongxin Xianghuwan (Huangdeng) Wuzhuang Guojigangwuqu Shuangzhai Xinzhu Baoshuiqu Baoshuiqu Depot This diagram: view talk edit

Opening timeline

Segment	Commencement	Length	Station(s)	Name
Yuhuazhai — Baoshuiqu	8 November 2016	39.1 km (24.30 mi)	26	Phase 1

Stations (from south to north)

Service routes		Station name		Connections	Distance km[6]		Location
		English	Chinese
●	●	Yuhuazhai	鱼化寨	Xi'an SkyShuttle	0.000	0.000	Yanta
●	●	Zhangbabeilu	丈八北路		2.311	2.311
●	●	Yanpingmen	延平门	8	1.244	3.555
●	●	Kejilu	科技路	6	1.761	5.316
●	●	Taibainanlu	太白南路		1.262	6.579
●	●	Jixiangcun	吉祥村		1.618	8.197
●	●	Xiaozhai	小寨	2	1.350	9.547
●	●	Dayanta	大雁塔	4	1.493	11.040
●	●	Beichitou	北池头		1.277	12.317
●	●	Qinglongsi	青龙寺	5	1.783	14.100
●	●	Yanxingmen (Shapo)	延兴门（沙坡）		1.869	15.968	Beilin
●	●	Xianninglu	咸宁路	6	0.799	16.767	Beilin/Xincheng
●	●	Changlegongyuan	长乐公园		1.114	17.881	Xincheng
●	●	Tonghuamen	通化门	1	0.962	18.843
●	●	Hujiamiao	胡家庙		0.893	19.736
●	●	Shijiajie	石家街		1.477	21.214
●	●	Xinjiamiao	辛家庙		1.557	22.771	Weiyang
●	●	Guangtaimen	广泰门	8	2.008	24.779
●	●	Taohuatan	桃花潭		1.828	26.607	Baqiao
●	●	Chanbazhongxin	浐灞中心		1.574	28.181
●	●	Xianghuwan (Huangdeng)	香湖湾（黄邓）		1.597	29.778
●		Wuzhuang	务庄		2.166	31.945
●		Guojigangwuqu	国际港务区		2.233	34.178
●		Shuangzhai	双寨	14	1.264	35.442
●		Xinzhu	新筑		1.193	36.635
●		Baoshuiqu	保税区		1.397	38.032

Future development

Phase 2

Phase 2 of Line 3 is still in long-term planning.^[1] It will be an extension from the southwest terminus of Phase 1, Yuhuazhai station to Kunmingchi station (tentatively named). After the completion of Phase 2, Line 3 will have 30 stations (an addition of 4 to Phase 1) and a length of 50.5 km (31.4 mi) in total.^[1]

Rolling stock

The rolling stock consists solely of CNR DKZ17 trains manufactured by CNR Dalian, 41 trainsets will be provided as per the first contract.^[7] The trains run in six-car formation, with four motor cars and two trailer cars, which is different from previous trains (running in 3-3 formation), as more power is required to drive the trains up the ramp from underground to overground sections.^[7]

DKZ17
Manufacturer	CNR
Built at	CNR Dalian, CNR Changchun and CSR Sifang[7]
Formation	Six-car formation Tc-Mp-M-T-Mp-Tc[nb 1]
Capacity	1468(rated) 1880(maximum)
Operators	Xi'an Metro
Specifications
Train length	19 m (62 ft 4 in)
Width	2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)
Height	3.8 m (12 ft 6 in)
Electric system(s)	1500 V DC Overhead catenary

Train Control

Line 3, as all the previous lines, uses Trainguard MT CBTC signal system manufactured by Siemens^[8][9] to enhance the safety of the automated, driverless trains.

Incidents

Defective cable incident

On 13 March 2017, a post titled Do you still dare to take the Xi'an Metro? (西安的地铁你们还敢坐吗) was posted by an anonymous whistle-blower on an online forum.^[10] The poster claimed that the electrical cables used on Line 3 of Xi'an Metro, which were produced by Shaanxi Aokai Electrical Cables (Aokai Cables), did not meet the safety criteria, specifically, the cross-sectional area was smaller than specified, which might lead to overheating of the cables, therefore presenting a fire hazard.

On 15 March, Aokai Cables released a statement that the claims were unfounded and they have filed a police report.

On 16 March, the official Xi'an Metro Weibo account announced that they had launched an official investigation and an internal audit. On the same day, the government of Xi'an pledged to investigate the matter.

On 20 March, the government of Xi'an told a press conference that none out of five cable samples sampled were of acceptable quality.

In the wake of the incident, 8 members of staff from Aokai cables were arrested and disciplinary actions were taken against 122 local officials, including 8 bureau-directors and 58 division heads.^[11]

Notes

1. Note that trains running on line 3 will be different with 4 motor cars and 2 trailer cars.