Modern Trolley Demonstration Line Starts Operation in Chengyang District, Qingdao

On March 5, Qingdao Trolley Demonstration Line, the first of its kind in Shandong, started pilot operation, marking the official use for passenger transport of the green and environmental-friendly traffic facility constructed by UCD. The new-type facility will offer great traffic convenience for the local people.

The modern trolley demonstration line in Chengyang District, Qingdao is China’s first trolley construction project built in the mode of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC). The line, measuring 8.77km in full length, is mostly in the downtown and difficult in construction coordination. In May 2014, the project started construction on site. Despite of shortage of experience in EPC and trolley project, and the improper communication of the newly-built team and unfamiliar with the local environment, the integration of engineering, procurement and construction quickly rolled out the work, such as civil work, tracklaying, hardening, greening, electric system construction and signal system improvement etc. Even in the winter, the constructors worked hard day and night with great enthusiasm to secure the project’s progress and schedule. In December 2014, the line construction of the project was completed. On December 28, the line was put into operation. On March 18, 2015, the real trolley ran on the track for unit commissioning, joint commissioning and pilot operation. It is known that, the stage-by-stage power supply is applied in trolley operation. The line will have six transformer substations, with every 1.2kmneeding a transformer substation. The investment for one subway line equals to 6-8 modern trolley lines. The construction term of a trolley line is only one third of that of a subway line. Moreover, in comparison with subway lines, trolley lines are simpler in construction technology and lower in operation cost, only 1/3 of that of subway lines. But, the operation velocity, energy consumption and environmental influence of trolley lines are comparable with those of subway lines. The project won the honor of Safe Work Site granted by Qingdao in 2014.