TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram

TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram
TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram
	TEDA MGRT Tram
Overview
Status	Closed
Owner	Tianjin
Locale	Tianjin, China
Termini	TEDA; North of College District;
Stations	14
Service
Type	Translohr
System	Tianjin Metro
Services	1
Operator(s)	Tianjin Binhai Mass Transit Development Co., Ltd. (As a subsidiary of Tianjin Rail Transit Group Corporation since 2017)
History
Opened	10 May 2007
Closed	1 June 2023
Technical
Line length	7.86 km (4.88 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Character	At-grade
Track gauge	None, central guide rail
Electrification	750 V DC Overhead lines
Operating speed	80 km/h (50 mph)
Route map
Route map

TEDA Modern Guided Rail Tram (Chinese: 天津开发区导轨电车; pinyin: Tiānjīn Kāifāqū Dǎoguǐ Diànchē) was a Translohr Light Rail line in Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA). It operated from 2007 to 2023, as rubber-tyred tram line, the first in Asia. The line was a part of the Tianjin Metro system. It was run by Tianjin Binhai Mass Transit Development Co., Ltd, which has been a subsidiary of Tianjin Rail Transit Group Corporation since 2017.

Tianjin once had a conventional steel-wheeled tramway network. The system gradually expanded and reached its peak in 1933 with 116 tramcars, was however abandoned in 1972.

History

The TEDA industrial zone is Tianjin's fastest developing area. A public transport system to overcome traffic congestion was considered necessary.

Construction began in 2005. The 7.86 km (4.88 mi) long line was opened to the public in 2007, making it the first LRT system in mainland China. It was run by Tianjin Binhai Mass Transit Development Co., Ltd, which has been a subsidiary of Tianjin Rail Transit Group Corporation since 2017. The total cost of the project was estimated at 500 million yuan, of which 190 million yuan were used for engineering test-line (excluding vehicles).

Once operational, the line quickly became popular amongst locals.

As of June 2023, the TEDA Guided Tram has suspended operations for scheduled maintenance.^[1]

On 19 July 2023, the transportation and construction management department of TEDA opened a project bidding announcement for removal of both overhead line, the single guide rail and restoration of the road surface. ^[2]

Timeline

1972 – Abandonment of original tram network as construction on the city's subway system began
2005 – Construction of rubber-tired LRT started
2006 – First test run
2007 – Opened to public on May 10, 2007

Segment	Date opened	Length
TEDA — North of College District	10 May 2007	7.860 km (4.88 mi)

Practical Info

Total length – 8 km
Operating hours – 5:30 A.M. to 12 Midnight
Frequency – 3 minutes

Fleet

The LRVs for the line were manufactured by Translohr of France. All LRVs were low-floor, fully air-conditioned, and could run at a speed up to 80 kmph. Each LRV had three sections (Translohr STE 3).

Stations (south to north)

The line ran on unreserved tracks, mostly in the middle of the road. It crossed many numerical avenues of TEDA and the college district. All stations had island platforms.

Station name		Connections	Location
English	Chinese	Connections	Location

TEDA	泰达		Binhai
First Avenue	第一大街
Second Avenue	第二大街
Third Avenue	第三大街
Fourth Avenue	第四大街
Fifth Avenue	第五大街
Sixth Avenue	第六大街
Seventh Avenue	第七大街
Ninth Avenue	第九大街
Tenth Avenue	第十大街
Eleventh Avenue	第十一大街
International Joint Academy	联合研究院
College District	学院区
North of College District	学院区北