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Keolis opened a new section of its first tram network in China

Through its joint venture in China, Keolis opened a new section of the Songjiang tram network on 10 August, bringing its total coverage up to 27 kilometres and the number of stations served to 40. In a bid to reduce numbers of urban car journeys, the network is intended to carry some 170,000 passengers per day. This milestone is important for Songjiang residents and visitors to it – who are now able to rely on a sustainable and comfortable shared mobility solution for getting around the city –, as well as for Keolis, which is bolstering its presence in China and shoring up its position as a leading global tram operator.

The first tram network operated by Keolis in China

Having won a five-year contract to operate and maintain the Songjiang tram network in August 2018 and open an initial section (13.9 kilometres) in December 2018, Shanghai Keolis, the joint venture between Shanghai Shentong Metro Group and Keolis[1], has just opened a new 12.86 km section. This brings the network's total coverage up to 27 km. It now serves 40 stations across the city's residential areas and its universities, as well as linking up to the Shanghai metro network. The tram network is due to be completed by the end of the year, by which time it will be 31 km long.
 
Songjiang is a suburban district of Shanghai with a population of 1.8 million. The project to build a tram network was initiated by the Songjiang Transportation Investment Operation Group in a bid to provide Songjiang residents and visitors with a more sustainable and reliable shared mobility solution, significantly reducing individual car usage in the process.
 
The tram network is expected to carry some 170,000 passengers per day. The service is operated with 30 Alstom-built Citadis trams which run every 10 minutes between 6 AM and 11 PM.
 
With 141 employees – including drivers, customer service operatives and maintenance technicians – all completely focused on enhancing the passenger experience, the Songjiang tram network is the first to be operated by Shanghai Keolis in China.

[1] Shanghai Shentong Metro Group (51%) and Keolis (49%)

Keolis continues to meet urban mobility needs in China and is shoring up its presence in the country

The Shanghai Keolis joint venture was set up in June 2014 and currently has around 400 employees. The JV operates the first automated metro line of Shanghai – the network Songjiang tramway – and will soon open Shanghai International Airport’s new automated metro system, connecting the two existing terminals to two new satellites (nearing completion) as part of an airport extension project.

A world leader in light-rail operations

Keolis counts 23 tram networks around the world:

  • 12 networks in France (Besançon, Bordeaux, Caen, Dijon, Le Mans, Lille, Lyon, Nancy, Orléans, Paris region, Strasbourg, and Tours).
  • 9 international networks: Aarhus (Denmark), Bergen (Norway), Gold Coast, Melbourne (the world’s largest tram network), Newcastle (Australia), Nottingham, Manchester (UK), Songjiang (China) and now Region of Waterloo (Canada).
  • 2 networks under construction: Lusail (Qatar) and Odense (Denmark).