Tramway cites losses for shelving expansion plans
Print Edition
THE operator of Shanghai’s first modern tram in Zhangjiang, Pudong New Area, has shelved expansion plans because of high operating costs.
Shanghai Pudong Modern Tramway Co has been running up losses of more than 20 million yuan (US$3.2 million) a year, the Shanghai Morning Post reported yesterday. The company cannot even afford to replace spare parts, while it has cut down on the frequency from 3 minutes to 15 minutes. It runs five trams instead of seven to cut costs.
The 9.8-kilometer tram line runs between Jinqiu Road and Zhangjiang High-Tech Park Station on Metro Line 2.
The report said each tram runs up a bill of about 300,000 yuan on electricity alone in a month. Moreover, the tram’s spare parts have to be imported. An imported cabin key itself costs 100 euros (US$109.7).
“Only about 5,000 to 6,000 passengers take the tram every day,” Yang Roujian, a manager with the Tramway Co, told the paper. “The fare — 2 yuan — can hardly cover maintenance costs. Most passengers pay only 1 yuan as they transfer from Metro Line 2.”
Sun Zhang, who teaches at Tongji University, told Shanghai Daily that there were several reasons for the failed venture — one of them was wrong choice of trams and the wrong route.
“They use monorail tram which works out costly, and regularly requires changes in components,” said Sun, adding that only five places in the world use monorail trams.
He said trams serve little purpose in industrial towns like Zhangjiang which does not have big residential or commercial areas.
Most passengers commute from downtown and only take the tram during rush hour.
Sun however insisted that trams can be a useful and effective means of public transport, especially because the roads are crammed with vehicles.
“Trams follow particular lines, leaving more space for pedestrians. It is environmental friendly and does not use sudden brakes, which is good for senior citizens,” said Sun.
The city’s transport commission said two new tram projects will put into service in downtown Yan’an Road and suburban Songjiang District.
Sun said the best place for trams are areas with a population of between 500,000 to 1 million people. He said for that very reason alone Songjiang was a good choice for trams.
Songjiang’s tram operator said the first two of the five tram lines in the district will connect the populated old town, new town, university town and industrial park in the district.
Sun also told Shanghai Daily that China now has the technology to design and manufacture trams at home that will bring down the costs enormously.
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