The Xi'an Metro, also known as the Xi'an Rail Transit, is a rapid transit system in the city of Xi'an and the neighbouring city of Xianyang, in Shaanxi province, China.

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Xi'an Metro
A line 14 train in May 2023
Overview
Locale	Xi'an and Xianyang
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	9
Number of stations	212
Daily ridership	2.8 million (2021 average)[1]
Annual ridership	1.0 billion (2021)[1]
Operation
Began operation	16 September 2011; 12 years ago (2011-09-16)
Operator(s)	Xi'an Rail Transit Group Co., Ltd.
Technical
System length	311 km (193 mi)
Track gauge	1435 mm (standard gauge)
System map

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The system has 9 lines in operation. Line 2 opened to the public on September 16, 2011.^[2] Line 1 began operation on September 15, 2013. Line 3 began operation after months of delay on November 8, 2016. Line 4 opened on December 26, 2018. Lines 5, 6, 9 opened in December 2020. Line 14 opened in September 2019 and extended in June 2021. Line 16 opened on June 27, 2023.^[3]

Initial proposals for a subway in Xi'an were created in the 70s which called for the Xi'an City Wall to be demolished to make way for a ring subway line. This was similar to what was done to create Beijing Subway Line 2, but the plan was scrapped due to successful opposition by preservationists and lack of funding for the project.^[4] Later, Xi'an began its planning a multiline metro system in the mid-1980s. The plan was first submitted to the State Council in 1994, with four planned lines and a total length of 73.2 km (45.5 mi). In February 2004, the re-drafted plan was submitted to the State Government, which received final approval on September 13, 2006.

The first line, Line 2, began construction along Chang'an Street on 29 September 2006 and was completed in 2011. It runs north–south and passes under such historic sites as the Bell Tower and the Xi'an City Wall. It is 26.6 km (16.5 mi) long with 23.5 km (14.6 mi) lying underground, approximately 20 metres (65 ft 7 in) below the surface. It is estimated to have cost 17.9 billion yuan (US$2.24 billion).^[5] The route stretches from the Beikezhan to Weiqunan with 20 stops. The travel time is 39 minutes for the entire length, cutting the commute almost in half. Operations began on 28 September 2011.^{[citation needed]}

Four other routes were planned to start construction in 2011 and to be finished by around 2020. When completed, the system will span 251.8 km (156.5 mi) and will mainly service the urban and suburban districts of Xi'an and part of Xianyang.^[6]

On June 12, 2019, the NDRC approved the Phase III (2018-2024) Construction Plan of Xi'an Metro. The plan includes Line 1 (Phase 3), Line 2 (Phase 2), Line 8, Line 10 (Phase 1), Line 14, Line 15 (Phase 1), Line 16 (Phase 1). The total length of Xi'an Metro will be 423 kilometres (263 mi) in 2024.^[7]

The final sections of Lines 5 & 6 connect to two new railway stations and are to open at the same time as those stations.

On June 12, 2019, the NDRC approved the Phase III (2018-2024) Construction Plan of Xi'an Metro. The plan includes Line 1 (Phase 3), Line 2 (Phase 2), Line 8, Line 10 (Phase 1), Line 14, Line 15 (Phase 1), Line 16 (Phase 1). The total length of Xi'an Metro will be 423 kilometres (263 mi) in 2024.^[17]

On 30 December 2008, a fire occurred that was extinguished within an hour; all workers evacuated safely. Just 66 hours later, on 2 January, another fire occurred at another station on Line 2.^[20]

On 26 May 2009, an individual suffered minor injuries from a fire during infrastructure work on Line 1.

On 2 August 2009, 9:20am, a cave-in at the construction site of Sajinqiao section of Line 1 trapped migrant workers under 10 cubic meters of earth for over three hours, hospitalizing at least two who later died at the hospital.^[21]

• List of rapid transit systems