On the morning of July 1, the demonstration section of Huangpu District's Tram Line 1 officially commenced trial operations, accompanied by the launch ceremony of the "Huangpu in Full Bloom" themed train at Lingfu Vehicle Depot. According to Li Xionghui, General Manager of Guangzhou Development Zone Investment Group Co., Ltd., the demonstration section effectively connects multiple community hubs, including Changping Village, Shantang Village, Qiangdong Village, Changlingju Primary School, and the Southern Chinese-English Bilingual School, significantly benefiting over 100,000 residents along Yongshun Avenue with improved transportation access.

It is understood that the Huangpu Tram Line 1 (Changlingju–Luogang), as the district's first tram line, is a key livelihood project being actively developed by Huangpu District. It also serves as a major provincial project in Guangdong Province. The line spans approximately 14.4 kilometers in total and is expected to open fully by the end of 2020. Connecting Yonghe, Changlingju, Changping, Shuixi Village, and the New Huangpu Political & Cultural Center area, the line fills the gap in urban rail transit coverage along Yongshun Avenue, ultimately becoming a vibrant and eye-catching feature of Huangpu District.

Implementing the "Metro + Tram + Bus" Intermodal Connection

Trams combine the advantages of both buses and subways. Compared to taking a bus, trams offer smoother rides and greater comfort, while also allowing passengers to enjoy scenic views along the way—effectively blending daily commutes with leisurely sightseeing.

According to reports, the demonstration section of Tram Line 1, which has just begun trial operations, spans approximately 7 kilometers and features 10 stations connected by 9 sections: Changping Metro Station, Qiangdong Station, Changlingju Primary School Station, Lingtou Station, Cadre Health Center Station, Lingtou East Station, Xianjiangxi Station, Xianjiang Park Station, Xianjiang Station, and Xinfeng Road Station. This tram line segment offers practical, efficient, and convenient commuting options. Notably, Changping Metro Station provides seamless connectivity with Guangzhou Metro Line 21, enabling direct access to downtown Guangzhou within half an hour. Additionally, passengers can easily transfer to 10 bus routes—including lines 327, 345A, 396, and 330—offering direct access along the route in about 20 minutes. Complementing the tram system are two dedicated shuttle services designed to enhance convenience, ensuring a smooth integration of "metro + tram + bus" connections and providing residents with comprehensive, user-friendly transportation solutions.

Currently, Huangpu District is accelerating the construction of its tram network. In addition to Huangpu Tram Line 1, construction of Huangpu Tram Line 2 (from Xiangxue Station to Nangang Station) commenced in August 2019. Meanwhile, the Huangpu Tram Line 5 project (from Yuyan Road to Wangcun Station) was officially launched on May 28, 2020. It is anticipated that these two new lines will enter into phased operation by 2022 and 2024, respectively. Once completed, Huangpu District's three major areas—Guangzhou Science City, Changlingju, and Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City—will be seamlessly connected through an "interlocking" loop network formed by Metro Line 21, as well as Tram Lines 1, 2, and 5. This integrated system will enable residents and commuters to travel directly from their origin to their destination within no more than 40 minutes, regardless of which area they are in.

The "Huangpu in Full Bloom" themed train showcases the charm of Huangpu.

The "Huangpu in Full Bloom" themed train, crafted by Guangzhou Development Zone Investment Group, boasts a distinctive design. Its striking red exterior not only highlights Huangpu's unique cultural heritage rooted in the color red but also symbolizes the vibrant momentum driving the rapid development of the tram system. The train body is adorned with delicate Xiangxue plum blossoms, incorporating key elements such as scenes and architectural symbols that represent both the city's revolutionary history and its modern transformation. As a dynamic showcase of Huangpu's charm, the inaugural "Huangpu in Full Bloom" themed train will undoubtedly become a stunning, moving landmark along the streets of Huangpu.

It is understood that the tram Line 1 features electric multiple units, each measuring 37 meters in length and consisting of a four-car formation. The entire train has a rated passenger capacity of 280 people, with a maximum capacity of 360 passengers, including 50 seated places. The vehicle body adopts an aluminum alloy lightweight design and is powered by onboard supercapacitor energy storage components. Its operation is managed through an intelligent traffic control system. Compared to traditional power supply methods, the tram utilizes advanced hybrid charge-discharge automatic control technology: Supercapacitors are employed to enhance power supply stability, enabling rapid charging and discharging at stations; meanwhile, titanium lithium batteries are integrated to improve range reliability, ensuring extended operational endurance. Upon entering stations, the train can complete charging within 30 seconds—precisely during the time passengers board and alight. Additionally, during braking, over 80% of the braking energy is recovered and stored in the supercapacitors, facilitating green, efficient, and cyclical energy utilization.

Additionally, most of Tram Line 1 was upgraded and reconstructed by utilizing the central green belt along existing roads. It is laid directly in the middle of the roadway, occupying a width of 9 meters. A decorative floral landscape is installed between the track area and the municipal road as a protective barrier, ensuring both safety and aesthetic appeal. Concurrently with the project construction, the adjacent municipal roads and sidewalks on both sides were widened simultaneously, thereby maintaining the original capacity for existing vehicular traffic without any disruption.

Two convenient service bus routes officially launched simultaneously.

It is reported that after the trial operation of the demonstration section of Tram Line 1, the operating hours will be from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. During peak hours (7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.), the train interval can be reduced to as little as 9 minutes. Like buses and subways, ticket vending machines at tram stops support electronic payments as well as transactions using banknotes and coins. Inside the trams, ticket-checking machines are also installed, allowing passengers to board by tapping their Guangzhou Pass cards or scanning the QR codes on their purchased paper tickets. Meanwhile, to address the "last-mile" transportation needs of residents along Yonghe Street in Huangpu District and facilitate seamless transfers to the tram system, two dedicated shuttle bus routes were simultaneously launched on the same day alongside the opening of the demonstration section of Tram Line 1.

Regarding the traffic light issue, which has drawn widespread public attention, on-site staff explained that although there are two traffic lights along the ground-level section of Tram Line 1 (Yongshun Avenue), drivers do not actually need to stop at these lights. This is because the line operates under a semi-dedicated right-of-way system. Specifically, through precise control of the traffic signals, as soon as the tram leaves the station and approaches the pedestrian crossing, the system automatically switches to display a green light for the tram and a red light for pedestrians.

A relevant official from Guangzhou Development Zone Investment Group stated that the trial operation of the demonstration section of Tram Line 1 has been successfully launched, enhancing the competitiveness of the metro-plus-modern tram-based rail transit system and further improving the overall service quality of the region's urban public transportation network.