The Southeast of Nanjing was until now, an area of the city poorly served by public transport. That has all now changed, to the obvious thrill of local residents, with last week’s opening of the Nanjing Qilin Electric Tramway.
Under construction for many years, since its big brother went on show in time to ferry athletes to and from their village at the 2014 Youth Olympics, the system utilises the same 32.5 metre-long, low-floor Light Rail Vehicles, built by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen.
The ride is quiet and smooth, with a sound and feel very similar to China’s magnificent high speed trains. Only when one looks up does one realise that unlike the aforementioned, this tram operates at a crawl, while making for an arresting sight as it snakes its way between the opposing carriageways of Zhijun Dong Lu.
Don’t also believe the hype that the new tramway connects with metro line 2 at Ma Qun. It doesn’t. The station is in fact entirely separate, while one’s fitness app will struggle to keep up with the number of steps that have to be traversed in order to make the metro-tram connection. Those of reduced mobility beware.
Just as with other mass transit systems that serve parts of Nanjing where local residents may have been unaccustomed to the associated etiquette, a handy informational leaflet is being handed out to departees, illustrating the dos and don'ts of tram riding.
Services are at present few and far apart; every 18-25 minutes, although that is sure to change as the system becomes more utilised. At least it gives one time to go across the street to find some change; it’s coins or the smart card only. Every ride, no matter one stop or 13 stops to the end of line, costs ¥2.
With the new tram system devoid of ticket machines and an Alipay logo nowhere to be seen, it’s back to basics for the Nanjing Qilin Tramway. And it’s actually quite a refreshing change.
