Shanghai Airport Link Fare Scheme Finalized: Starting Fare of 4 Yuan, 0.45 Yuan per Kilometer
On November 15, the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission and the Shanghai Transportation Commission jointly issued the “Notice on Matters Related to the Fare Mechanism for Urban Rail Lines in Shanghai” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”). The Notice stipulates that the starting fare for urban lines is 4 yuan, with a base rate of 0.45 yuan per person per kilometer for urban lines designed for a maximum speed of 160 km/h or above; for urban lines designed for a maximum speed below 160 km/h, the base rate is 0.37 yuan per person per kilometer.
According to previous reports by The Paper, Shanghai’s urban lines encompass urban express lines and urban railways. Among them, the Chongming Line is an urban express line designed for a maximum speed of 120 km/h. The urban railways include the entire Airport Link, the Nanhui Branch Line, the Jiamin Line, and the Demonstration Zone Line, all designed for a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The first section of the Airport Link (Hongqiao Terminal 2 Station to Pudong Terminals 1 and 2 Station) is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. It is anticipated that by the end of 2028, the entire Airport Link, the Nanhui Branch Line, the Chongming Line, the Jiamin Line, and the Demonstration Zone Line will be successively completed and opened to traffic.
This means that the first section of the Airport Link, which will be completed by the end of 2024, will apply the fare scheme with a base rate of 0.45 yuan per person per kilometer.
The fare calculation method is as follows: fare per person = fare rate per person per kilometer × travel distance. If the fare per person is less than or equal to the starting fare, the starting fare will be charged; if it is higher than the starting fare, the fare will be calculated according to the formula. For urban lines, fares are rounded to the nearest yuan, with fractions of 0.5 yuan or less rounded down and fractions greater than 0.5 yuan rounded up to the next whole yuan.
The Notice also mentions the fare calculation rules for transfers. For interconnected and interchange transfers between urban lines, continuous fare calculation is applied according to the urban line fare rules. For transfers between urban lines and urban metro lines, the urban line segment is continuously priced according to the urban line fare rules (excluding the starting fare), while the urban metro line segment is continuously priced according to the existing urban metro fare system, with the two segments added together.
In August of this year, the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission announced two fare schemes for urban railways. The first scheme, which is the one now adopted, implements a single fare rate of 0.45 yuan per person per kilometer. The second scheme implements a tiered fare rate with cumulative charges in three segments. In September, the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission held a hearing to formulate the fare mechanism for urban rail lines, gathering opinions and suggestions from various sectors of society. The single fare rate scheme received majority support.
It is worth noting that the fare calculated using this scheme may differ from the final fare. According to the Notice, the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission, together with the Shanghai Transportation Commission, will formulate the base fare (including the base rate and starting fare) for urban rail lines. Under the guidance of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission and the Shanghai Transportation Commission, the Shentong Metro Group may implement discounts or promotions on the base fare and optimize the fare calculation method and transfer fare rules as needed based on actual operation conditions.
The Airport Link has a total of 9 stations.
The aforementioned fare mechanism will be implemented from the date of operation of the first section of the Airport Link (Hongqiao Terminal 2 Station to Pudong Terminals 1 and 2 Station). The Shentong Metro Group should prepare and publish the fare table between stations and related information in advance according to the requirements of the Notice.
The Notice mentions that the Shentong Metro Group should publish information on ticket types, fare calculation methods, and ticket usage methods for urban lines on channels such as the Shanghai Metro official website. Before the opening of each urban line, the fare table between stations should be published in advance on channels such as the Shanghai Metro official website, and fare information should also be posted in station announcement boards. The Shentong Metro Group should strengthen policy training for frontline station staff and ensure smooth communication channels for consultation and complaints through service hotlines.
The fare mechanism formulated this time applies to urban lines (including urban railways and urban express lines) opened in 2024 and thereafter.