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Kunming - capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China; 3.2 million inhabitants

North-south line, southern section opened in 2013, to eventually become 41.4 km with 25 stations

20 May 2013: Xiaodongcun - University Town South (22.1 km, 12 stations)
30 Apr 2014: Xiaodongcun - South Ring Road (> through operation on Line 2)
16 Dec 2016: Chunrong Street - Kunming South Railway Station (4.7 km, 4 stations)

North-south line, complete length will be 22.8 km with 22 stations

30-04-2014: North Coach Station - South Ring Road (> through operation on Line 1)
01-09-2014: Kunming North Railway Station added

East-west line, linking West and East Coach Station:

29 Aug 2017: Western Hills Park - East Coach Station (23.4 km)

Northwest to southeast line, serving North and South Railway Stations; fully underground.

23 Sept 2020: Jinchuan Road – Kunming South Railway Station (43.4 km)

Northeast to southwest line, serving North Railway Station; fully underground.

29 June 2022: World Horti-Expo Garden – Baofeng (26.5 km)

Airport express line, starting from East Coach Station, the eastern terminus of metro line 3; after being extended into the city centre it reached a length of 25.5 km.

28 June 2012: East Coach Station - Airport Center (18.2 km, without intermediate stations)
05 Mar 2016: service suspended
29 Aug 2017: East Coach Station - Airport Center (including intermediate stations Dabanqiao and Airport Front)
23 Sept 2020: East Coach Station – Tangzixiang (7.3 km)

 Projects

See Wikipedia!

Kunming Rail Transit (Official Website)

Kunming Metro at Wikipedia

News on Kunming

In March 2018, Craig Moore reports from Kunming:

The capital of Yunnan Province sits high on a plateau in deepest, southern China. As such, Kunming has a pleasant year-round climate and is known as the ‘City of an Eternal Spring’. Together with its rich history and ‘minority’ cultural presence, the city is an important tourist destination. Kunming Rail Transit (KRT) is constructing a medium-sized urban rail network and, currently, only 4 lines operate. These offer 86.5km of services with 57 stations (48 underground). 63.7km of operations are underground, with the remainder elevated.

Stations have entrances at major crossroads, and these are accompanied by a large totem (topped by the ‘K’ logo). Underground stations have stylish glass/steel entrance porticos and stations on the elevated sections are located in the centre of a main road, with access to the ticket hall provided by an elevated walkway from the side pavements. The entrance levels house automated ticket machines (bank notes only!) which dispense colourful card tickets (2-7 Yuan), and a large and rather vacant schematic system map accompanied by a vicinity map and first/last train information (0615-2200). After typical security procedures, a line of automated ticket barriers await and at the side is the customer information office which deals with ticket queries and has no hard-copy information. Once within the system, escalators provide access to the platform at either end of the station and there is also a lift, located in the centre of the station. The underground platforms are all very similar with full platform screens topped with a strip map highlighting the current station; trim related to line colour, seating areas, RTI screens, directional signage (Mandarin/English) and toilets at the end of the platform. Elevated stations have the same furnishings but with half screens.

Line 1 and Line 2
Until both lines are extended on their planned trajectories beyond South Ring Road station, they operate as a single line service. In the north, Line 2 has a 2.1km elevated stretch from North Coach Station and moves underground before reaching Sijaying. Heading south Beichen is the busiest station on this outer stretch and North Railway Station is on a slight curve, differentiated by yellow pillars. After this the stations are quite closely spaced through the centre, the trains barely accelerating before having to break. Dongfeng Square is the busiest station on the network and has a large ticket hall and central, circular forum in which access points to Lines 2 and 3 (see below) are available. The underground stations on this line are quite dimly lit, exaggerated by the heavy tint on the train windows.

At Kunming Railway Station, the service becomes Line 1 and this is the busier part of the entire line. Just south of Xiaodongcun the line becomes elevated for 10.6km, the elevated stations having island platforms except South Coach Station which has 3 platforms (island and one side platform). Here there is a ramp in the middle of the two service tracks which heads down from the elevated position to a small stabling facility to the south. The elevated platforms on this section are smart, topped by a curvaceous canopy which protects from the sun. In addition, the end of the platforms have a small protrusion which takes the platform beyond the signalling, mirrors and ATO paraphernalia, thereby offering uncluttered views of the infrastructure and train movements. This part of the line is residential with several shopping centres and sports facilities. Shortly after Dounan, the track heads below ground again and at Churong Street alternate trains from the north head on the 5.3km branch to Kunming South Railway Station. On the main route south, line speeds slow to Tuofeng Street, but then increases again all the way to University Town South, a new industrial/academic area in the south of the city.

The line operation is 46.5km (33.8km underground) in total (Line 1 is 34.2 incl 5.3km branch and Line 2 is 12.3km) with the continuous journey lasting 1hr 13mins. A trip on the South Station branch from Churong Lu takes 14min. The line has 6min headways from the north to Churong Lu and 12min headways on each section southward. These services are operated by 6-car CSR stock which is very pleasant and bright with side seating and curved coloured seating end plates. Above each door is a curled electronic strip map which shows line 1 and 2 as a single line (albeit colour-coded) and with journey progress lighting.

Line 3 opened in mid-2017 and runs west-east from the tourist centre of the Western Hills, and through the western part of the city under main thoroughfares. The line passes through Dongfeng Square, running below and perpendicular to the north-south line. Here there is well signed and simple transfer (the pink line indicator stands out). Heading further east, the 22.8km line runs above ground for 1.3km before the terminus at East Coach Station. Stations on the line are a predominantly island platforms with standard features, although there are some side platforms in which the access stairs protrude, limiting the platform space, and at Jimnasi, the exit barriers are to be found on the platform. Whilst the stations have a newer feel, there are no real design developments, although Tuodong has boldly coloured central pillars to brighten the feel. Services use CRRC 6-car trains and run 6min headways with the entire journey taking 43mins. The terminus of East Coach Station connects to Line 6. This is a large simple building with a high roof and an island and two side platform layout, the central island being divided by a huge wall to separate the two lines and in essence greeting two side platform stations. To the north, Line 3 services arrive and depart, platforms having high screens. Long stairs at the eastern end take passengers to the ticket hall, exit to the coach station, and, via a rather circuitous route, to the stairs down to Line 6.

Opened in 2012 with minimal services, Line 6 only became fully operation in mid-2017 at the same time as Line 3. This is a suburban metro-style express service to the airport, the 17.2km (8.4km underground) line having only 2 intermediate stations and taking 14mins. Services use bright 6-car CRRC stock with smart dynamic strip maps and run at 15min headways. On leaving East Coach Station the train is immediately underground for 2.8km. The long elevated section (with short underground section) includes Dabanqiao station, a basic island station, which offers some great views of the city, the surrounding mountains and the airport in the distance. The platforms have half screens, seating and RTI. Jichan qian (side) and Airport Station (island) continue the basic feel – nothing special here.

In general, this is not a bad network. The new extensions don’t jump out but they add significantly to coverage. Headways are good and the trains are bright, modern and clean, with appropriate line colour trip (although they don't carry system maps). Electronic and audio announcements are offered in Mandarin and English and include ‘behaviour’ information such as ‘do not spit’ and ‘please speak quietly’. It is all well organised and only adds to the enjoyment of this lovely city.