Shanghai Trolleybus Route 20

Trolleybus Route 20 is a trolleybus route in Shanghai, China. It started operations on 27 September 1928, and runs between Zhongshan Park (Wanhangdu Road) in Changning District and Hankou Road & Middle Sichuan Road in Huangpu District. It is operated by Shanghai Bus No.1 Public Transportation Co. Ltd.[1]

Shanghai Trolleybus Route 20
A Sunwin SWB5129BEV77G passing by People’s Square in May 2023
Overview
OperatorShanghai Bus No.1 Public Transport Co. Ltd (巴士一公司)
VehicleSunwin SWB5129BEV77G
Began service27 September 1928
Route
Route typeTrolleybus route
StartZhongshan Park (Wanhangdu Road)
ViaYuyuan Road, Jing'an Temple, West Nanjing Road, People's Square
EndHankou Road & Middle Sichuan Road
Length7.7km
Stops19 (towards Zhongshan Park (Wanhangdu Road))
13 (towards Hankou Road & Middle Sichuan Road)
Competition 2 , bus route 37
Service
Frequency2-3 minutes (peak hour)
5-10 minutes (non peak hour)
Daily ridership13000 (2019)

Route 20 is one of Shanghai's most famous and popular bus routes, with a rich history and a route that passes many major landmarks. It is estimated that as many as 9 out of 10 Shanghai residents have ridden the route. The route is frequently covered in Chinese-language media as a result of the bus operator's publicity efforts.[2][3][4][5][6]

History

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Yingshang No. 1 tram in 1908

The Yingshang No. 1 tram route, a predecessor to Trolleybus Route 20, was opened by the British Shanghai Tramways on 21 January 1908 and ran between the Jing'an Temple and The Bund.[6][7][8]

Trolleybus Route 20 opened on 27 September 1928, initially operating between Zhongshan Park and the Jing'an Temple. After the removal of tram tracks along Nanjing Road in 1963, Yingshang No. 1 was merged into Route 20, forming a single trolleybus route that ran between Zhongshan Park and The Bund.[8]

In 1999, after part of East Nanjing Road was converted to a pedestrian-only shopping street, Route 20 was rerouted to skip the segment via Jiujiang Road.[8]

In 2019, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, all 25 trolleybuses running along the route were decorated with pictures depicting the history of the route.[9] That year, it was estimated that as many as 9 out of 10 Shanghai residents had ridden on the route.[2]

In the same year, after the entire East Nanjing Road was made pedestrian-only, the terminus was shifted from Jiujiang Road & East No.1 Zhongshan Road to Hankou Road & Middle Sichuan Road.[10]

Fleet

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As of May 2023, the route runs on a fleet of 22 Sunwin SWB5129BEV77G trolleybuses. These buses bear a blue retro livery, commemorating the heritage of trams and trolleybuses in Shanghai. Unlike other trolleybuses of the same type, those on Route 20 have a line of text saying "Since 1928", alluding to the year the route was introduced. These buses were piloted in July 2022 and entered service in September.[11][12][13][14]

Fleet history

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Shanghai SWB5105KGP-3 in 2012
Youngman trolleybus at Jiujiang Road terminus in 2014

Before Route 20 merged with Yingshang No. 1, the route used 8TR rigid trolleybuses imported from Czechoslovakia, as well as locally built Dahongqi 5000 series trolleybuses.[8][15]

Key developments in the route's fleet include:

  • 1963: first SKD663 articulated trolleybus entered service on route 20. These would be used for over 15 years, only being replaced in the 1980s. In addition, SK661 trolleybuses were introduced in the 1970s.[8]
  • 1984: the route started using a full fleet of Shanghai SK561GF and SK570 articulated trolleybuses. At this point of time, the route was so popular that daily ridership reached over 70,000, requiring over 65 buses running per day on 30-second headways.[8][15]
  • 1990s: air-conditioned trolleybuses began entering service on the route.[8]
  • 2004: Shanghai SWB5105KGP-3 and Xianfei HZGWG100K trolleybuses introduced.[8][15]
  • 2014: Newer Youngman trolleybuses entered service; these were retired in September 2022 when the retro-style Sunwin trolleybuses entered service.[16]

Route information

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Route 20, like many other bus routes in downtown Shanghai, charges a flat fare of RMB2. Interchange discounts using the Shanghai Public Transport Card is applicable.[17]

The route passes by the following landmarks, listed from west (Zhongshan Park) to east (Hankou Road & Middle Sichuan Road):[1]


See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "上海20路 - 上海20路公交车路线 - 上海20路公交车路线查询 - 上海20路公交车路线站点". m.8684.cn. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  2. ^ a b JFDaily (2019-03-22). ""10个上海人9个坐过"的20路公交车,即将迎来大升级!" [Route 20, which 9 out of 10 Shanghai residents have ridden, is getting a major upgrade!]. Baidu Baijiahao.
  3. ^ "上海:乘公交,"阅读"城市历史-新华网" [Shanghai: Ride the bus & learn the history of the city]. www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  4. ^ "20路公交车见证南京路百年变迁 将升级移动公交博物馆". sh.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  5. ^ "新站、新车、新貌!22辆复古风20路公交车亮相上海南京路" [New station, new buses, new looks! 22 retro-style route 20 buses show up along Nanjing Road]. m.thepaper.cn. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  6. ^ a b "【记忆】满载长宁人的回忆!93岁的20路无轨电车明年将重大升级" [Carrying the memories of Changning residents! 93-year-old route 20 will get a major upgrade next year]. m.thepaper.cn. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  7. ^ "This Day in History: Shanghai's Trams and Trolley Systems". That's Online. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h 上海发布 (2019-07-20). "「记忆」坐20路公交路过的风景,是否也承载着你的记忆?" [Memories: Does the sights while riding route 20 carry your own memories?]. Baidu Baijiahao.
  9. ^ "运行111年的20路公交车,将成移动"公交博物馆"" [Trolleybus route 20, which has been running for over 111 years, will become a "mobile museum"]. c.m.163.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  10. ^ "【关注】20路无轨电车改道!南京东路东拓后,20路还能重回原点吗?_外滩". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  11. ^ "Vintage buses offer a retrospective ride back to a century ago". SHINE. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  12. ^ "复古造型无轨电车出场 勾起集体回忆" [Retro-style trolleybuses bring back memories]. 星洲网 Sin Chew Daily Malaysia Latest News and Headlines (in Simplified Chinese). 2022-09-13. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  13. ^ 周到上海. "20路电车焕新亮相!来听听这群电车迷的故事……" [Appearance of new trolleybuses for route 20! Listen to the stories of these trolleybus enthusiasts...]. Weixin Official Accounts Platform. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  14. ^ 周到上海 (23 July 2022). "20路新电车被抢先"亮相"?上海车迷希望保护好城市文化符号" [Early appearance of route 20 trolleybuses? Shanghai bus enthusiasts hope to protect the city heritage icon]. 163.com.
  15. ^ a b c "公交20路百年来的车型回顾……_上观新闻". www.jfdaily.com. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  16. ^ Ren, Tianbao. "告别!上海无轨电车的"青年"时代,结束了" [Goodbye! The era of "Youngman" Shanghai trolleybuses is over]. m.gmw.cn. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
  17. ^ "上海公交车收费标准2023 - 上海慢慢看" [Fare structure of public buses in Shanghai as of 2023]. g.bm.manmankan.com. Retrieved 2023-06-10.