Chongqing Rail Transit

The Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) is a massive rapid transit system in Chongqing, China. It serves the city's busy business districts, entertainment areas, and inner suburbs. Since it began operating in 2005, the system has grown into a vital network. It helps millions of people navigate a city that is both densely populated and geographically difficult.

Because Chongqing is a mountainous city with many deep river valleys, the CRT is a unique engineering marvel. It must overcome extreme differences in elevation to connect the hilly plateaus with the low river valleys.

To manage these difficult landscapes, the CRT uses two distinct types of rail technology. Most of the network consists of twelve conventional heavy-rail metro lines. These include Lines 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 18, the Loop line, the Jiangtiao line, and the Bitong line. However, Lines 2 and 3 utilize high-capacity monorail technology. A monorail is a train that runs on a single rail. This design allows the trains to negotiate much steeper grades and tighter curves than standard trains.

This capability is essential for the hilly terrain of Chongqing.

The monorail lines are some of the most important parts of the entire system. They can transport 32,000 passengers per hour per direction. In 2019, the busiest section of Line 3 reached a peak volume of 37,700 passengers per hour per direction. At 94 kilometers long, the two monorail lines together form the longest monorail system in the world. Line 3 is also the world's longest single monorail line. It is incredibly busy, carrying 250 million rides in 2015. This makes Line 3 the busiest single monorail line on Earth.

Building the CRT has involved complex history and long-term planning. In 1992, the Chongqing government signed a Build-Operate-Transfer agreement with a company from Hong Kong. This agreement provided the land needed for the project. However, construction stopped in 1997 due to legal issues. Work eventually resumed for Line 1, which began limited service in 2011. Line 2 was the first rapid transit line to open in the Interior West of China back in 2005. Today, the network continues to expand with several other lines currently under construction.

The system holds many world records for its extreme engineering. The Hualongqiao station on Line 9 is a six-story structure. It sits 48 meters above the surface, making it the tallest metro station in the world. In contrast, the system also features the deepest metro stations in China. Hongyancun is the deepest in the world at 116 meters below the surface. Other very deep stations include Hongtudi and Liyuchi. These stations show how the CRT must dive deep into the earth to navigate the city's complex layers.

Bridges are another major component of the CRT's unique infrastructure. The Caijia Rail Transit Bridge on Line 6 is the world's highest metro-only bridge. It spans the Jialing River valley at a great height above the water. The system also features the longest metro-only suspension bridge by main span, which is the Egongyan Rail Transit Bridge. This bridge carries the southern arc of the Loop line across the Yangtze River. Additionally, the Nanjimen Bridge is the longest metro-only cable-stayed bridge by main span. It carries Line 10 trains across the river.

The CRT is a deeply integrated part of the city's daily life and economy. The Loop line, also known as Line 0, connects three major railway stations: Chongqing North, Shapingba, and Chongqing West. Passengers use the Life & Transport Card to pay for their trips. This card is very versatile, as it can also be used in local shops, cinemas, and restaurants. The system is designed for efficiency, though passengers must complete their trips within three hours to avoid extra charges. By connecting various districts through mountains, rivers, and tunnels, the CRT serves as the backbone of Chongqing's urban movement.