Line 18 (Guangzhou Metro)

Line 18 of the Guangzhou Metro (Chinese: 广州地铁18号线; pinyin: Guǎngzhōu Dìtiě Shíbāhàoxiàn) is a rapid transit express line in Guangzhou with trains operating up to 160 km/h (99 mph).^[5][6] It runs in a south-north direction, connecting Wanqingsha in Nansha District, Panyu Square in Panyu District, Modiesha in Haizhu District, Zhujiang New Town and Guangzhou East Railway Station in Tianhe District. The line commenced service on 28 September 2021.^[1]

Line 18
Concourse of Panyu Square Station
Overview
Other name(s)	North-South express line (Chinese: 南北快线) Nansha express line (Chinese: 南沙快线)
Status	Operational
Owner	City of Guangzhou
Termini	Wanqingsha Xiancun (initial)
Stations	8 (+1 under construction)
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Guangzhou Metro
Services	1
Operator(s)	Guangdong Intercity (Wholly-owned subsidiary of Guangzhou Metro Corporation)
History
Opened	28 September 2021; 3 years ago (2021-09-28) (Wanqingsha–Xiancun)[1]
Technical
Line length	58.3 km (36.2 mi) (Wanqingsha—Xiancun)[2][3] 61.3 km (38.1 mi) (full Phase 1)[3]
Character	Underground
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed	160 km/h (99 mph)[4]
Route map Legend North extension Reserved extension Huachengjie Guangfo circular intercity railway Ma'anshan Park  9  to Fei'eling to Gaozeng Guangqing intercity railway Guangfo circular intercity railway Huadu Railway Station (left) Guangzhou North Railway Station  9   24  Jingguang railway Jingguangshengang HSR  24  to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Fenghuangnanlu Weihu Junction ( Guangqing intercity railway connecting line ) Airport Depot  22  to Airport North (Terminal 2) Fangshi  22  Baiyun Urban Center  22   22  to Panyu Square Baiyun Dongping  14  to Jiahewanggang to Dongfeng Jingxilu  3  to Airport North (Terminal 2)  11  Outer Circle Inner Circle Guangzhou East Railway Station  1   3   11  Guangshen Railway  3  to Tianhe Coach Terminal  1  to Xilang Xiancun  13   13  to Chaoyang to Xinsha  5  to Jiaokou to Huangpu New Port Pearl River  THZ1  to Canton Tower to Wanshengwei Modiesha  8   8  to Jiaoxin to Wanshengwei  12  to Xunfenggang to Higher Education Mega Center South Longtan  11   11  Inner Circle Outer Circle Pearl River Shaxi Sanzhixiang Creek Guangfo circular IR Nancun Wanbo  7   7  to Meidi Dadao to Yanshan Foguan IR  22  to Chentougang  3  to Haibang Panyu Square  3   22  Line 22 interconnection Shiqiao Creek Longzhen Stabling Yard Shawan Creek Xili rescue point Jiaomen Creek Shanghengli Creek Hengli Xiahengli Creek Wanqingsha Shenzhan Railway Nansha Port Railway Qichong Wanqingsha Depot South-west extension Shichong (reserved station) Shisanchong Ershichong ↑Guangzhou/Zhongshan↓ Hongqili Creek Xiangshan Reserved Zhuhai branch Huoqudong (reserved station) Huoqu Huoquxi Zhangjiabian Stabling Yard Zhongshan Guangzhu intercity railway Qijiangdao Qijiang New Town (reserved station) Shiqi Xingzhong Reserved extension This diagram: view talk edit

Line 18 drawn to scale.

Initially, there are train attendants on board each train. In the future, trains will operate fully driverless GoA4 mode when sufficient reliability from the signaling system has been confirmed.^[7]

Summary

Phase 1

The 61.3 km (38.1 mi) line, roughly north-south, connects Wanqingsha in Nansha District with Guangzhou East Railway Station, with only seven stations in between, Hengli, Panyu Square, Nancun Wanbo, Shaxi, Longtan, Modiesha, Xiancun.^[3] The line uses 8-car Type D trains with an operating speed of 160 km/h (99 mph).^[8] This high speed can be sustained especially on the 26 km (16 mi) section between Panyu Square and Hengli stations.

The service between Wanqingsha and Xiancun was opened on 28 September 2021. There are 2 distinct stopping patterns operating, facilitated by passing loops at select stations, a local all stop service and an express service stopping only at Hengli and Panyu Square. The local service will take only 37 minutes from Wanqingsha to XIancun, and the express service is even shortened by 7 minutes.^[9]

North extension

The north extension of Line 18, also known as "Guangzhoudong to Huadu Tiangui intercity" (Chinese: 广州东至花都天贵城际) or "Guanghua intercity" (Chinese: 广花城际), will be 39.6 km (24.6 mi) in length with 7 new stations, to Huachengjie in Huadu District of Guangzhou. It will be fully underground, bringing this line to the world-longest metro tunnel with 100.9 km (62.7 mi) length.^[10] At Fangshi Station provisions have been made to allow for Line 18 trains to interline into Line 22 to directly serve Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.^[11] A branch line via Huadu Railway Station allowing for through service to and from the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Railway is also under planning.^[12]

South extension

An extension is planned that would see the line extended to Zhongshan and Zhuhai. This extension is also known as "Nansha to Zhuhai (Zhongshan) intercity" (Chinese: 南沙至珠海（中山）城际) or "Nanzhongzhu intercity" (Chinese: 南中珠城际). Construction on the southwestern extension to Zhongshan started on 30 March 2023.^[13] The Zhuhai extension is still under planning.

Since November 2020, the Zhuhai Municipal government is also studying extending Line 18 to connect with the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge at the Zhuhai-Macao Port artificial island.^[14][15][12] Additionally, a connection line has been proposed south of Wanqingsha Station, to allow Line 18 to through operate into the Shenzhen–Dayawan intercity railway.^[16]

Planning

Line 18 and Line 22 were originally planned as long-term projects, but the desire to promote development of the Nansha Free Trade Zone fast tracked the project for construction. Line 18 will be designed as an express line to provide a rapid transit link between Nansha District and the central urban area of Guangzhou. The planned travel time between Nansha Free Trade Zone and central Guangzhou is proposed to be 30 minutes.^[17][18]

The government received a number of requests from the public to increase the number of stations along the line. In particular a station at Tianhe Sports Center allowing from interchange with Line 1^[19] and a station at Yuwotou Town.^[20] The planners rejected the suggestions to maintain the line's wide stop spacing to allow for the target of 30 minute travel time Nansha and central Guangzhou. Together with the planned Line 26 along Guangzhou Avenue, Line 18 is expected to provide some relief to Line 3.

Opening time

Segment	Commencement	Length	Station(s)	Name
Xiancun — Wanqingsha	28 September 2021	58.3 km (36.2 mi)[3][2]	8	Phase 1
Guangzhou East Railway Station — Xiancun	TBA (Under construction)	3.0 km (1.9 mi)	1

Stations

Legend

  - Opened on 28 September 2021
  - Under construction

Section	Station No.	Express	Regular	Station name[3]		Connections	Location
				English	Chinese
North ext.				Huachengjie	花城街	HCA  GFC	Huadu
				Ma'anshan Park	马鞍山公园	9  905
				Fenghuangnanlu	凤凰南路
				Fangshi	方石	22	Baiyun
				Baiyun Urban Center	白云城市中心	22
				Baiyun Dongping	白云东平	14  1402
				Jingxilu	京溪路
Phase 1				Guangzhou East Railway Station	广州东站	1  116  3  318  11  1108 GGQ	Tianhe
	1808	●	●	Xiancun	冼村	13
	1807	●	●	Modiesha	磨碟沙	8  825	Haizhu
	1806	｜	●	Longtan	龙潭	11  1131
	1805	｜	●	Shaxi	沙溪		Panyu
	1804	●	●	Nancun Wanbo	南村万博	7  706
	1803	●	●	Panyu Square	番禺广场	3  301  22  2201
	1802	●	●	Hengli	横沥		Nansha
	1801	●	●	Wanqingsha	万顷沙	15  Nansha railway station

Southwestern Section

Section	Station name		Connections	Location	City
	English	Chinese
Southwestern ext.	Shichong (reserved station)	十涌		Nansha	Guangzhou
	Shisanchong	十三涌
	Ershichong	二十涌
	Xiangshan	香山		Nanlang	Zhongshan
	Huojudong (reserved station)	火炬东		Zhongshangang Subdistrict
	Huoju	火炬
	Huojuxi	火炬西
	Zhongshan	中山	ZSQ
	Qijiangdao	岐江道		Dongqu Subdistrict
	Qijiang New Town (reserved station)	岐江新城		Shiqi Subdistrict
	Shiqi	石岐
	Xingzhong	兴中		Dongqu Subdistrict

Rolling Stock

Model of line 18 train

Line 18 uses 8 car Type D urban express trains with a maximum operating speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), which is currently the fastest subway line in mainland China. The trains are manufactured by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive with the first train was officially delivered on September 25, 2020.^[21] Initially upon opening, 15 trains were put into operation.^[22] Line 18 is the first line of Guangzhou Metro to introduce different thermostat settings in each car and set up first class cars. In the future, differentiated charges will be implemented to meet the needs of different passengers.^[11]