Jiyang Road Interchange to Open Late 2009
Jiyang Road is likely to open in late 2009 — but those of us travelling on Line 8 wish it opened earlier. The station seems to be fully open with the lights on, but there’s something about Jiyang that makes it a world away from providing direct, in-station transfers with Line 6.
The official excuse is that Jiyang Road is located in Shanghai’s version of the Middle of Nowhere. No roads, no streets, no nothing comes close to Jiyang Road — and that bit’s clear if you take a look at it from a map: just northwest of a crossing.
When Jiyang Road opens later this year, it’ll provide a direct link with Line 6, and will also have an interchange reserved with Line 11. The station will have three floors underground: a concourse, the Line 8 island platforms and two island platforms further below, which will be shared between Line 6 and the future extension to Line 11. This will also feature the sole cross-platform interchange in the basic Shanghai Metro network (Lines 1 through 13).
In the meantime, the Line 6 part from South Lingyan Road to Jiyang Road has been built — but is not carrying anyone at the moment. Let’s just hope that it opens for good at the end of this year as well. By the way, be prepared for an odd scenario at Jiyang: yes interchange, no exit…