“Ice City” Harbin has opened China’s first subway in extremely cold city

“Ice City” Harbin has opened China’s first subway in extremely cold city
China’s first Metro train designed for operation in extremely cold weather

By David Briginshaw
International Railway Journal

Test running started today on the first metro line to be built in the northern Chinese city of Harbin, where temperatures can plunge to -38ºC (-36.4ºF).

The 17.5km (10.8 miles) line with 18 stations connects the city’s two main line stations, East and South. The line partly uses a former air-defence evacuation tunnel built during the Second World War.

CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles has supplied a fleet of 17 six-car trains which have been fitted with special insulation to withstand the extreme cold. The trains have aluminium alloy car bodies and each set comprises four motored cars and two trailers. Bombardier supplied the traction and auxiliary systems as well as the train control equipment.

Harbin has a population of more than 10 million, and two more metro lines are planned with a view to creating an 89.6km (55.6 miles) network by 2018.

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Source: Harbin Metro

Test running started on the first metro line to be built in the northern Chinese city of Harbin, where temperatures can plunge to -38ºC (-36.4ºF).

The 17.5km (10.8 miles) line with 18 stations connects the city’s two main line stations, East and South. The line partly uses a former air-defence evacuation tunnel built during the Second World War.

CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles has supplied a fleet of 17 six-car trains which have been fitted with special insulation to withstand the extreme cold. The trains have aluminium alloy car bodies and each set comprises four motored cars and two trailers. Bombardier supplied the traction and auxiliary systems as well as the train control equipment.

Harbin has a population of more than 10 million, and two more metro lines are planned with a view to creating an 89.6km (55.6 miles) network by 2018.

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Harbin

Population: 5,878,939

Metropolitan regional population: 10,635,971
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Video: Chillin’ in Harbin

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Video: About Harbin, China

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Video: World’s largest ice city

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