We’re delighted to announce the launch of Explore Singapore, our fifth metro map site and the first outside of China. Singapore’s MRT is a modern and efficient system and we’re delighted to be able to bring our mapping technology to a new city. Look out for more city sites during 2010!

As with all our ExploreMetro maps, you get:

• Simple clear mapping of all current lines at www.exploresg.com
• English and Chinese versions
• Built-in route-planner with times and prices for all journeys
• First and last train times for all stations
• MRTpedia with pages for every station and line including Google Maps, nearby attractions and journey times
• An iPhone app – currently in review by Apple, launch expected soon!

Good news and bad news from the Shanghai Metro Company today!

First, the good news: Metro Line 11 will fully open from 29th March.

• The new branch line to Anting will open – handy for visitors travelling to the Shanghai Circuit station for the F1 race! Note that the station at East Changji Road will open at a later date.
• Line 11 will be Shanghai’s first branched line, so pay attention to the destination of your train: Anting or North Jiading.
• The full line will now be open between approximately 6am to 9.30pm. ExploreShanghai online has been updated with all the new train times: just click on any station to see the popup.

The bad news: the Eastern extension of Line 2 to Pudong Airport, and Line 10 have been delayed, no official opening date has yet been announced.

The Shanghai Metro Company has announced that final testing is taking place on the new Line 11 branch line. The line is expected to open before the Formula 1 race at the Shanghai International Circuit takes place on the weekend of 16th – 18th April. The new stations on Line 11 will be

• Shanghai Circuit 上海赛车场
• East Changji Road 昌吉东路
• Shanghai Automobile City 上海汽车城”
• Anting 安亭 (terminus)

Currently trains on Line 11 only run between 9am and 4pm, the interval between trains has now been reduced from 9 minutes to 7 minutes. Note that some northboard trains will terminate at Jiading Xincheng, where the line divides into the two branches to Anting and North Jiading.

We’ll announce on the blog as soon as the new branch opens for passengers!

The latest 1.6 update to our Explore Shanghai Metro map for iPhone is out now on the iTunes App Store! The latest update adds the new extension to Line 2 to Hongqiao Airport, and also updates the routeplanner and first/last train times with all the latest data.

Version 1.6 is a free upgrade for existing users. If you haven’t downloaded ExploreShanghai, you’re missing out! Download it now from the iTunes App Store.

And a quick reminder there’s only two days left to grab a copy of Explore Hong Kong for iPhone for FREE! Stop reading this right now!

To celebrate the fact that Explore Hong Kong has just been upgraded to version 1.5, including great new features like “find my nearest station”, we’ve gone KowLOONY! Until Sunday 21st March, you’ll be able to download Explore Hong Kong absolutely free!

Ten great reasons to get Explore Hong Kong:

Hurry! Download Explore Hong Kong from the iTunes App Store now! Sale ends Sunday 21st March!

Frequent flyers rejoice! Tomorrow (February 16) Shanghai Metro Line 2 will be extended to Hongqiao Airport. The new stretch of line extends from the current terminus at Songhong Road, to Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2, then to Hongqiao Railway Station, to the new terminus at East Xujing.

We’ve just updated exploreshanghai.com – our online interactive map – with the new stations! You can click on any station to check the latest first/last train times.

Need to Know

1. Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 will be served by trains from 5:35 to 22:50. Later in the year, it will also be served by Line 10, which will also call at Terminal 1.
2. The Hongqiao Railway Station stop will not open tomorrow: it will open later when the new railway station opens. You’ll be able to catch express trains to Nanjing，and in 2011, to Beijing.
3. Other Line 2 stations will open later, the last train is up to 20 minutes later than previously from most stations.

Users of our Explore Shanghai iPhone app can expect a free update in the next few days!

The Shanghai Metro currently has 10 lines in operation: Lines 1 to 9 are in full operation, Line 11 is in trial operation. So, what’s still pending opening this year? The plan is to open everything before the Expo, but it seems like some projects are delayed. If you have accurate opening dates for any of these lines, please let me know in the comments!

• Line 2 west extension – Songhong Road to Xujing via Hongqiao Airport and Hongqiao Railway Station. Should be the next to open, during March. Open March 16! (except Hongqiao Railway Station)
• Line 2 east extension - 8 new stations from Guanglan Road to Pudong International Airport.  Open April 8!
• Line 7 north extension – Qihua Road to Meilanhu.
• Line 10 – a major new line with 31 stations, appears to be delayed.  Open for trial operation April 10 (except branch to Hongqiao)
• Line 11 branch line –  to Anting – open 29 March! (except East Changji Road)
• Line 13 – will open for Expo ticket-holders only

Additionally some closed stations on existing lines may open. Zhoujiadu on Line 8, Houtan on Line 7, Jiyang Road on Line 6/8 and Middle Yanggao Road (open April 7) on Line 9 fall into this category.

We’re pleased to announce Explore Beijing 1.5 for iPhone – the best Beijing Subway app for iPhone just got better!

One of the great new features in version 1.5 is “Find my nearest”. When you’re exploring the capital, and want to find the nearest subway station, just tap the “Nearest” tab. Using your iPhone’s GPS (or wifi signals on the iPod touch) we’ll provide a list of nearest stations, as well as approximate distances and directions:

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