Line 9 is run by Tianjin Binhai Mass Transit Development Co., Ltd, which became a subsidiary of Tianjin Rail Transit Group Corporation in 2017.
Design
Most of the line is elevated that runs parallel to the Jinbin Expressway (only the westernmost 6.67 kilometres (4.14 mi) runs in tunnels). Hence, it is often wrongly called "light rail", as is commonplace in China with elevated or at-grade metro lines.
Trains can reach a speed of up to 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph).[citation needed] Of the 4 bridges along the line, the No. 1 and No. 4 bridges are longer and use ballastless track, while the No. 2 and No. 3 bridges use ballasted track. The No. 1 bridge, from Guanghua Road (between Dongxing Road and Zhongshanmen stations) to Babao, with a total length of 25.8 kilometres (16.0 mi), is the longest bridge used in rapid transit systems in China.
History
Line 9 first opened on 28 March 2004. It was extended to Tianjinzhan on 15 October 2012, connecting with the main metro network by allowing passengers to transfer to Lines 2 and 3.[2]
Train service on the whole line was suspended on 13 August 2015 after a series of massive explosions devastated the area. The explosions occurred less than a kilometre from Donghailu station; the roof of the station collapsed, and the control centre nearby was destroyed.[3] It resumed operation on 16 December from Tianjin Railway Station to Tianjin Pipe Corporation Station.[4]
Timeline
2001 May 18 - Construction begins
2003 September 30 - Construction completes
2004 March 28 - Trial service begins, 6 stations are open to service: Zhongshanmen, Donglikaifaqu, Gangguangongsi, Yanghuoshichang, Dongtinglu, and Donghailu. The price of the tickets are 3 yuan for less than 30 km (19 mi) or 5 yuan for greater than 30 km (19 mi). The first train departs at 07:00 and the last at 19:00. Hujiayuan is a special station only open to BMT staffs and Huizhanzhongxin station near TEDA football field is only open for football matches and other special events.
2004 May 25 - Yihaoqiao station opens for service
2004 September 13 - Extends open time to 06:30 - 19:00
2004 October 18 - Shiminguangchang station opens
2005 March 27 - Huizhanzhongxin station opens on normal days
2005 April 28 - Erhaoqiao station opens, Yihaoqiao station closes. Automatic ticket selling and checking system begins use. The price of a ticket changes to 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 yuan, depending on the travel distance. Extends open time to 06:30 - 20:00.
Late 2005 or early 2006 - Yanghuoshichang station changed name to Tanggu; Dongtinglu changed name to TEDA.
2006 March 1 - Yihaoqiao station reopens; Xinlizhen, Xiaodongzhuang, Junliangcheng, Hujiayuan stations open, so all 14 stations that have been constructed are open.
2006 March 28 - At 11 a.m., the trains begin automatic train operation; the total travel time from Zhongshanmen to Donghailu decreases from 49 min to 47.5 min.
2006 May 1 - Extends open time to 06:30 - 21:00.
2010 May 1 - Shiyijing Road to Zhongshanmen was opened
2015 August 12 - the 2015 Tianjin explosions caused significant damage; all operations are suspended.
Tianjin Railway Station - Zhigu - Tanggu through train, runs twice on each directions, of which the 05:55 train from Tianjinzhan will continue to Donghailu (↓)
Rolling stock
Notes
^Not really a light rail. In China, elevated or at-grade metro lines always wrongly called "light rail". Only 6.67 km section on the line is underground.
References
^"天津地铁9号线全线投运 乘客"超时"按线网最高票价扣费". Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
^"天津地铁9号线延至天津站 末车时间延长至22:00". Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
^"津滨轻轨地铁9号线受损严重 展开抢修 尽早恢复运营 津滨轻轨地铁9号线受损严重 展开抢修 尽早恢复运营". Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
^ a b"津滨轻轨16日起恢复部分路段运营". China National Radio. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
^"30分钟内换乘可减1元 天津轨道交通再添两组"站外换线联程优惠"试点车站". 12 November 2022.
^"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
