Shanghai Airport Link Fare Scheme Finalized: Starting Fare at 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 of Shanghai Urban Rail Transit Lines” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”). The Notice clarifies 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 with a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour or above; for urban lines designed with a maximum speed below 160 kilometers per hour, the base rate is 0.37 yuan per person 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 of Shanghai Urban Rail Transit Lines”. Official website screenshot.
According to previous reports by The Paper, Shanghai’s urban lines include rapid rail transit and urban railways. Among them, the Chongming Line is a rapid rail transit line designed with a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour. The urban railways include the entire Airport Link, the Nanhui Branch Line, the Jiamin Line, and the Demonstration Zone Line, all designed with a maximum speed of 160 kilometers per hour. The first section of the Airport Link (Hongqiao Terminal 2 Station to Pudong Terminals 1 and 2 Station) is planned to be completed by the end of 2024. It is estimated 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 adopt the fare calculation 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. The fare for urban lines is calculated in yuan, with fractions of 0.5 yuan or less rounded down and fractions above 0.5 yuan rounded up to 1 yuan.
The Notice also mentions the transfer fare calculation rules. 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 area lines, the urban line portion is continuously priced according to the urban line fare rules (excluding the starting fare), while the urban area line portion is continuously priced according to the existing urban rail transit fare system, with the two portions 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 currently announced, adopts a single fare rate of 0.45 yuan per person per kilometer. The second scheme adopts 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 Shanghai urban rail transit lines, listening to opinions and suggestions from various sectors of society. The single fare rate scheme received majority support.
It is worth noting that the fare calculated through 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 transit lines. Under the guidance of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission and the Shanghai Transportation Commission, Shentong Metro Group may implement discounts or preferential treatments on the base fare based on actual operation conditions, and optimize the fare calculation method and transfer fare rules in a timely manner.
The Airport Link has a total of 9 stations.
The aforementioned fare mechanism will be implemented from the operation date of the first section of the Airport Link (Hongqiao Terminal 2 Station to Pudong Terminals 1 and 2 Station). Shentong Metro Group should prepare in advance to announce the fare table between stations and related information in accordance with the requirements of the Notice.
The Notice mentions that Shentong Metro Group should announce 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 announced in advance on channels such as the Shanghai Metro official website, and fare information should be published in station announcement boards. Shentong Metro Group should strengthen policy training for frontline station staff and ensure smooth communication channels for consultation and complaints through service hotlines.
The urban rail transit fare mechanism formulated this time applies to urban lines (including urban railways and rapid rail transit lines) opened in 2024 and thereafter.