Short trains, more seats, fast speed... Following the trial operation of Qingdao Metro Line 2 (eastern section), another good news arrives! The Qingdao Metro network will welcome a new member. After intensive preparatory work, Line 11 began a 3-month no-load trial operation from December 31, 2017 to March 30, 2018, totaling 90 days. Upon entering the trial operation phase, trains will gradually operate according to the timetable, and all aspects will be fully prepared according to operational standards.
Line 11 trains and seats are quite different
Qingdao Metro Line 11, also known as the Blue Silicon Valley Rail Transit Express Line, has a total length of about 58 kilometers, starting at the intersection of Miaoling Road and Shenzhen Road in Laoshan District and ending at Aoshan Bay in Jimo. The line has 22 stations (4 underground stations and 18 elevated stations), with an average station spacing of 2,753 meters, including 6 transfer stations. In addition, there is an Ocean University parking lot on the west side of Ocean University Station and a Datian Road vehicle comprehensive base on the east side of Datian Road Station.
On the morning of December 31, 2017, a Peninsula reporter visited Shandong University Station on Line 11 and saw the train undergoing trial operation. Every 19 minutes, the train stops at the station. Because it is a no-load trial operation, no passengers get on or off. During this process, the reporter noticed a detail: the Line 11 train is different from the already opened Line 2 and Line 3 trains. The train appears shorter, and the seat arrangement is also very different. There are two connected seats, that is, double-row seats, similar to the double-row seats on buses. In this regard, Zhao Hongyu, manager of the New Line Management Department of Qingdao Metro Group Operation Branch, introduced that Lines 2 and 3 trains are both 6-car formations, while Line 11 uses 4-car formations, so the train length is one-third shorter. Although the number of cars is smaller, each car of the Line 11 train has more seats than those of Lines 2 and 3. The maximum design speed of Line 11 vehicles is 120 km/h, which is the highest in China, much faster than the 80 km/h maximum speed of Lines 2 and 3. The maximum passenger capacity is about 1,200 people. "More seats in the train allow more passengers to sit, avoiding accidents caused by deceleration and other situations."
Expected to "start running" in April this year
No-load trial operation refers to the non-passenger train operation activity organized according to the operational mode to test equipment and facilities and conduct safety tests after the urban rail transit engineering system joint debugging is completed, cold and hot slip tests are successful, and basic conditions for opening are met. The trial operation time is generally not less than 3 months. "To ensure the smooth progress of the Line 11 trial operation, the operation team is going all out and intensively accelerating various debugging steps. The trial operation process will be divided into four stages. In the first three stages, the full-length route operation organization will be adopted, and in the fourth stage, the large and small route operation organization will be adopted. The specific operation time and interval will be adjusted according to actual conditions, and the operation order will prevail." Zhao Hongyu introduced that the 3-month no-load trial operation is divided into four stages. During this process, the number of trains will gradually increase from 8 to 16, and the headway will gradually be compressed from 19 minutes to 7 minutes 45 seconds, meeting the requirements for opening.
Specifically, the first stage of trial operation is the human-machine equipment running-in stage, conducting 8-train timetable tests, mainly for equipment functional verification and comprehensive joint debugging tests, through the operation of vehicles, signals, power supply and other equipment systems to find and fill gaps. The second stage is the steady progress stage of trial operation, conducting 13-train timetable tests. The last 4 trains leaving the depot will use automatic driving mode, and the others will use manual driving mode. The third stage is the high-density operation stage, with 16 trains on the line, arranged for consecutive departures, and the timetable will have larger headways. The fourth stage is the simulated trial operation stage, using the trial operation timetable to organize train operations, verifying the execution of the timetable, and collecting statistics on various indicators. All operation-related indicators meet the requirements for trial operation evaluation.
"After three months of no-load trial operation, we may find some problems. During this period, the construction unit and the construction party must continuously rectify and improve." Zhao Hongyu said that after the no-load trial operation is completed, the completion acceptance and the evaluation of basic conditions for trial operation will be organized. After that, the relevant departments will be consulted to determine the final opening date. "Initially, we expect the opening time to be in April."
All 2,090 authorized personnel in place
The reporter learned that to ensure the smooth and orderly progress of the trial operation, Qingdao Metro specially formulated the "Line 11 Trial Operation Train Operation Organization Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"). According to the "Plan", during the trial operation, management and control will be carried out according to passenger operation standards. By simulating the real operating environment after the opening of Line 11, the linkage between equipment systems and personnel in various positions will be driven, and the equipment functions and system stability will be verified. At least 18 electric passenger trains will accumulate no less than 3,000 train-kilometers on-line; the operation personnel's operations and rules and regulations will be verified, and the train drivers' cumulative driving mileage will be no less than 5,000 kilometers, etc.
In addition to the "Plan", 12 special support plans have been compiled, mainly from the aspect of equipment support. At the same time, the Blue Silicon Valley side has also compiled 4 support plans, "all to ensure that the trial operation is foolproof, stable and safe." He introduced that in terms of regulations and emergency plans, the operation branch has formulated a total of 135 technical regulations and 76 emergency plans for Line 11, all of which have been issued and implemented. In terms of personnel preparation, the authorized staffing for Line 11 is 2,090 people, all of whom are now in place. "These 2,090 people have also undergone necessary training, certification, and onboarding. Now the certification work is basically completed, achieving 100% on-duty with certificates."
Zhao Hongyu said that after determining the personnel and regulations, the staff have fully settled into various stations, depots, and control centers of Line 11 and have carried out simulated operations, making full preparations for the trial operation of Line 11.
Full journey in less than 1 hour
It is understood that Line 11 is a north-south rail transit express line in the eastern part of Qingdao's east coast urban area. A total of 40 trains are equipped for the entire line, and the train can complete the full journey in less than an hour after operation. Residents of the Blue Silicon Valley core area can reach major transportation hubs such as Qingdao Railway Station and the airport, as well as the main urban area of Qingdao, in only half an hour, providing a fast channel through the center of the east coast urban area for passenger flows between the West Coast New Area, Laoshan, Jimo, and the Blue Silicon Valley core area.
With the gradual expansion of the Qingdao Metro network, transfers will become more and more convenient—Line 11 can transfer to Line 2 at Shibo Park Station and Miaoling Road Station, and to Line 4 at Zhangcun Station. The relevant person in charge said that as a north-south rail transit express line located in the eastern part of Qingdao's east coast urban area, the opening of Line 11 will greatly alleviate the traffic pressure on Binhai Road and effectively ease the increasingly tense passenger transport pressure between the Blue Silicon Valley core area and the central urban area. After completion, it will provide convenient and fast transportation services between key development zones, comprehensive transportation hubs, and tourist areas along the line. "It will greatly reduce the travel needs of residents along the line, such as returning home, working, or visiting relatives. They can arrange travel at fixed times and save a lot of other uncertain time," the person in charge introduced.
Regarding the passenger flow after opening, the person in charge predicted that the urban section will be relatively concentrated, that is, the passenger flow from Shibo Park to Miaoling Road will be relatively concentrated, followed by the section from Shibo Park to Aoshanwei, which will also have a considerable passenger flow, while the passenger flow from Aoshanwei to Qiangu Mountain Station will be relatively small. "We expect that the section from Qiangu Mountain Station to Miaoling Road will have a relatively large passenger flow during the summer tourism period, winter hot spring period, especially during holidays."
Breakthrough
Only 6 months from civil engineering completion to no-load trial operation
Unlike the previously opened Line 3 and Line 2 urban metro lines, Line 11 is mainly elevated and connects the Blue Silicon Valley core area with Qingdao urban area. Because it offers views of the sea and mountains and goes "up to the sky and down to the ground" with undulations, it is praised by netizens as the "most beautiful metro line."
The Line 11 project started construction on June 1, 2013. As of the end of December 2017, the civil engineering, track, decoration, and electromechanical works of the entire line were basically completed. On August 16, September 20, and October 15, 2017, milestone nodes such as bridge (tunnel) connection, track connection, and power connection were achieved ahead of schedule. In 2017, facing the unfavorable situation that 36 pier locations in 5 sections had not completed demolition and relocation at the beginning of the year, the construction unit overcame huge difficulties brought by many breakpoints, multiple professional intersections, and high safety risks, actively resolved schedule pressure, and achieved a rapid leap from civil construction to no-load trial operation by the end of the year, with construction speed at the industry-leading level. "Since the civil construction was only completed in mid-June 2017 and trial operation began at the end of the year, the short period of 6 months is very rare in domestic construction history," said Zhang Qingli, deputy chief engineer of Blue Silicon Valley Intercity Rail Transit Co., Ltd.
Zhang Qingli introduced that the Line 11 project adopted the nationally leading pre-tensioned U-beam construction technology, which has the advantages of good bond and integrity between prestressed tendons and concrete, and high efficiency of batch prefabrication. The project comprehensively promoted the installation technology of hot-rolled toothed channel embedded parts, which does no damage to reinforced concrete structures and has the advantages of convenient cable bracket installation, reliable use, long life, and saving construction period and investment. It is also advanced and demonstrative in national urban rail transit projects. The project used for the first time a combined unit structure design of panel-type sound-absorbing and noise-reducing devices to replace the original perlite cotton material sound-absorbing panel noise reduction technology, and successfully applied it. The materials used have excellent physical properties such as light weight, corrosion resistance, aging resistance, and flame retardancy, greatly improving the sound absorption coefficient and service life of the sound-absorbing panel. To implement the excellent environmental protection concept, the project used a variety of advanced and special vibration and noise reduction measures throughout the line and conducted comprehensive vibration and noise reduction research on elevated sections and underground lines. The research results are planned to be promoted nationwide.
After completion, Line 11 will create many firsts in Qingdao and even Shandong Province. Line 11 is the first metro line with a design speed of 120 km/h, the first metro line in Qingdao to be opened all at once, the first elevated metro line in Qingdao to adopt advanced U-shaped girders, and the metro line with the most beautiful scenery along the route in Qingdao.
Thumbs up
United efforts forge the most beautiful metro line
Speaking of the difficulty of civil construction, the relevant person in charge said that countless ordinary citizens made great contributions to the construction of Line 11 and should be praised. Li Jie, deputy director of the Blue Valley Management Bureau, said that Blue Silicon Valley is an innovation highland and urgently needs a fast channel connecting the airport and the main urban area. The role of Line 11 in promoting the future development of Blue Valley is obvious. The smooth opening of Line 11 not only marks the integration of the young Blue Valley and the thousand-year-old ancient city of Jimo, which has just been established as a district, with greater Qingdao, but also means that this innovation highland of Blue Valley has entered the fast lane of accelerated development in terms of talent gathering, technological innovation, industrial incubation, and opening up.
These achievements were made by overcoming countless difficulties. "The construction period of this line was tight and the task was arduous. Local workers completed the demolition of 12 sunk piles, 400 residential houses, 80,000 square meters of houses, and nearly 3,000 mu of land in less than a year and a half. The task was very arduous." Behind this achievement list is the understanding and support of local residents: many villagers reluctantly moved out of their old houses where they had lived for many years, many villagers shed tears as they cut down the tea gardens they relied on for survival, and newlywed couples moved out of their newly decorated homes. "It can be said that from Laoshan to Blue Valley, countless ordinary people have made huge sacrifices and contributions."
■Related news
11 bus routes extend last bus time to connect with Metro Line 2
December 31, 2017 - The Peninsula reporter learned from the Municipal Transport Management Bureau on December 31, 2017 that to further strengthen the connection between regular bus routes in the Laoshan area and Metro Line 2 and facilitate transfer travel for citizens along the way, starting from January 4, 2018, the last bus times of 8 routes including 375, 380, 384, 607, 609, 610, 611, and 612 will be adjusted; starting from January 5, the last bus times of routes 619, 623, and 632 will be adjusted. The last bus times of these 11 bus routes will all be extended.
Starting from January 4, the adjusted last bus times for Route 375: Shengli Bridge 20:45, Qingdao University of Science and Technology 21:45. Route 380: East Bus Station 22:00, Nanlinggou 22:25. Route 384: Ocean University Laoshan Parking Lot 21:15, Yanling Road South Station 22:00. Route 607: East Bus Station 22:00, Lijin Road Passenger Station 22:20. Route 609: Huqing Road Parking Lot 21:40, East Bus Station 22:00. Route 610: Liujiaxiazhuang 22:00, Shazikou 22:40. Route 611: East Bus Station 18:30, Shazikou 19:20. Route 612: Liujiaxiazhuang 22:00, Laoshan No. 6 Middle School 22:50.
Starting from January 5, the adjusted last bus times for Route 619: East Bus Station 19:00, Wolong Village 20:15. Route 623: East Bus Station 22:00, Qingdao University 22:30. Route 632: East Bus Station 22:00, Maidao 22:25.