2024 China Urban Rail Transit Operational Mileage Report: 56 cities with 11,802.94 km
Record-breaking Development in Urban Rail Transit
In 2024, 27 cities in mainland China launched 56 new urban rail transit lines/segments, contributing an additional 1,017.84 kilometers to the operational network and establishing 608 new stations. Furthermore, Qingyuan was added as a newly operational urban rail city, marking a significant milestone for the country’s infrastructure development.
As of December 31, 2024, 56 cities in mainland China have an operational urban rail transit network spanning 11,802.94 kilometers and encompassing 7,692 stations.
Overview of 2024 Urban Rail Transit Operational Mileage Rankings
1. Rankings by Cities
- Shanghairanks first with 26 operational lines, totaling 79 kilometers and 613 stations.
- Beijingfollows, with 29 operational lines, 3 kilometers, and 528 stations.
- Chengduis third, with 18 operational lines, 96 kilometers, and 453 stations.
2. Rankings by System Types
Currently, China operates 11 types of urban rail transit systems, including:
- Metro,
- Suburban Rail,
- Tram,
- Light Rail,
- Straddle-Beam Monorail,
- Maglev,
- Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART),
- Cloud Rail,
- Automated People Movers (APM), and
- Rapid Transit Systems.
Metro systems dominate the market:
- 269 metro lineswith a total mileage of 9,362.29 kilometers and 6,281 stations.
- 26 suburban rail lines, totaling 1,200.07 kilometersand 320 stations.
- 36 tram lines, with 530 kilometersof operational mileage and 717 stations.
Details of New Urban Rail Transit Operational Lines in 2024
1. By Cities
In 2024, 27 cities, including Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Suzhou, Chengdu, and Shanghai, launched 56 new urban rail transit lines/segments, contributing a total of 1,017.84 kilometers and 608 new stations.
- Xi’anhad the longest expansion with 6 new lines/segments, adding 4 kilometers.
- Zhengzhouadded 3 new lines/segments, contributing 98 kilometers.
- Suzhouopened 3 new lines/segments, totaling 32 kilometers.
- Chengduinaugurated 5 new lines/segments, adding 62 kilometers.
A significant milestone was achieved in Qingyuan, which became the first city in China to operate a maglev rail line. The Qingyuan Maglev Tourism Line, a two-phase project, launched its first phase in 2024 with a total length of 8 kilometers, as part of a planned 38-kilometer network.
2. By System Types
The new lines in 2024 were distributed as follows:
- 45 metro lines/segments, contributing 98 kilometersand 501 stations.
- 6 suburban rail lines/segments, spanning 210 kilometersand 50 stations.
- 2 ART lines/segments, with a total of 4 kilometersand 15 stations.
- 1 tram line/segment, measuring 25 kilometersand containing 21 stations.
- 1 Cloud Rail line/segment, spanning 2 kilometersand 23 stations.
- 1 maglev line/segment, contributing 01 kilometersand featuring 3 stations.
Summary of New Urban Rail Transit Projects Launched in 2024
1. Overview of Newly Commenced Projects
In 2024, construction began on 14 urban rail transit lines/segments across 8 provinces and cities, with a total mileage of 296.63 kilometers, 180 stations, and a combined investment of over 251.462 billion yuan.
Key highlights include:
- Shenzhen: Initiated construction of 5 lines/segments, with a combined length of 43 kilometers, 61 stations, and a total investment of 732.88 billion yuan.
- Shanghai: Began 2 new lines/segments, spanning 2 kilometers, featuring 48 stations, and with an investment of 913.3 billion yuan.
- Changsha: Started construction on 1 maglev lineand 1 extension line, with a total length of 4 kilometers, 17 stations, and a budget of 142.9 billion yuan.
Conclusion
In 2024, China’s urban rail transit sector continued its rapid expansion with record-breaking developments in both operational and under-construction networks. Highlights include the inauguration of metro, suburban, and maglev lines, as well as the addition of Qingyuan as a new rail transit city. These achievements reinforce China’s global leadership in urban transit infrastructure, setting new benchmarks for innovation and efficiency in public transportation.