They call it the “Transfer King”. And when it opens, it will also be the first fully automated, driverless metro line in Nanjing. Construction has now entered its final major phase; track laying along the entire length of the now-complete tunnels.
Yesterday, 8 September, saw an opening ceremony for the commencement of track laying on Nanjing Metro Line 7, on a pilot section of track at the line’s terminus near Majia Railway Depot in Qixia District.
“Pilot” on account that this is the first time in the country that the China Railway 14th Bureau has has utilised “trackless track laying”. That’s a somewhat cumbersome term for metro lines laid by a tired vehicle, reports the Yangtze Evening News.
As the track is laid, so too does construction continue on the stations for Line 7, all of which are located underground.
And that’s another challenge altogether. Fully half of the stations along the Line are to be intersections with other lines, earning its nickname as “Transfer King”. In particular, those are to be lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 17, 18, S2 and S3.
Nanjing Metro Line 7 has a length of 35.49 kilometres, with a total of 27 stations and a route that runs more or less parallel with the southern bank of the Yangtze River.
Being “fully automated” means that Nanjing Metro Line 7 shall join the exclusive club known as GoA4 (Grade of Automation 4), in which member trains are distinct by being capable of operating automatically at all times, while also being able to open and close doors, detect obstacles and react to emergencies.
With its dedicated colour being a grassy green and an opening date slated for 2 years hence, trains on Line 7 will also be capable of running at up to 80 kilometres per hour.
In addition to its speed, Metro Line 7 being fully automated means it will offer numerous advantages over its human-controlled counterparts. Trains have a great passenger capacity, use less power and can run at more frequent intervals.
And did we mention the front and rear-facing windows at the ends of the train? Undoubtedly Nanjing’s top selfie spot for 2023.
