It includes all the features you’ve come to expect from our apps: routeplanning, search, find my nearest station, Google Maps for every station, first/last train times, and English/Chinese support.

This is the first release of the app, so I’d be really happy to hear from you If you have any comments or feedback on how to make the app better!

Download Explore Taipei now!

You can get all our latest features, including route-planning with up-to-date times and prices, Google Maps for every station, audio clips of every station name, and “find my nearest station“. Normally the app costs $0.99, but today and tomorrow you can download the app for free. Don’t delay, download it today!

Here’s what’s new!

Google Maps – By popular demand, you can now see a street map for every station. This is really handy if you’re arriving at a metro station and want to see which exit to take, or how to reach your destination. Just tap on any station, then tap Street map (requires a 3G or Wifi internet connection).

New interface – We’ve simplified the interface for browsing stations and planning routes. Just tap any station to see this standard popup. You can switch between Metro map, Street map and Train times (for first/last train times). You can also listen to the name of the station as an audio clip by tapping the station name, or start planning a route.

Easy routeplanning – Planning routes is now even simpler. Tap on the first station, and choose “Plan route”. Then tap on your destination. The route, time and price will be immediately shown. We’ve also updated the Singapore app prices for the new distance-based fares.

Version 2.5 is a FREE update for all existing users. Download our apps today!

We’ll be using ExploreMetro’s expertise to provide a great interactive metro online and for iPhone including:

• Clear, bilingual maps (English and Traditional Chinese)
• Fast, accurate route-planning with times and prices
• A native iPhone app with full offline access
• Street maps and first/last train times for every station
• Free updates, starting with the extensions to the Blue and Orange lines opening later in 2010

If you’d like to be notified when ExploreTaipei launches, pre-register at http://taipei.exploremetro.com/

Here’s are the options:

1. Buy single journey tickets for 3-9RMB each depending on distance. Purchasing is pretty simple using the ticket machines which have instructions in English. Then swipe your card on the way in, and let it be swallowed on the way out.

2. Buy a Shanghai Public Transportation Card (ask at an information desk) for a 20RMB refundable deposit, and you can top it up with 50RMB or 100RMB increments using a recharge machine. Then just swipe your card at the ticket gates in and out. Individual trips cost the same as single tickets, though there is a 10% discount if you travel enough in a month. Also at certain “virtual interchange” stations (Shanghai Railway Station, Yishan Road, South Shaanxi Road, Hongkou Stadium) you can avoid paying for a second ticket if you have a card.

3. Buy a one-day pass for 18RMB, available at the airport and some information desks. Seems like a bit of a gimmick for the Expo, unless you’re using the metro for four or five trips every day, this will probably be more expensive than single tickets.

Each person needs their own ticket, you can’t share a SPTC or one-day pass between multiple people. Any more tips, do leave a comment!

After breaking through 6 million for the first time on May 21, the numbers have shot up in the first week of July, due to the extended opening hours on Line 10 and increased numbers of passengers on Expo Line 13. Both lines have seen daily numbers double since May.

Get the data in a Google Spreadsheet

By popular request, we’ll soon be including integrated Google Maps in our iPhone metro map apps for Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Singapore. Just tap on any station and choose “Street map” to see the area around the selected station. You can pan and zoom the map to see more.

If you’ve got any suggestions on this or other features, do get in touch!

Stay tuned for updates to all our apps to support Google maps over the next few weeks.

Expect updates to our online map and iPhone app shortly!

We’ve completed the review of your application, but are unable to post this version to the App Store because it includes a contest with Apple products as prizes. Apps that include such offerings incorrectly create an association with Apple, Inc.

Hmm. So now when you tell a friend about one of our apps, you can win a iPad Wii! Just tap on the Help tab in the app.

For those of you waiting anxiously for the update, Explore Shanghai 2.3 has been resubmitted (including the new Hongqiao Railway Station and extended times for Line 10) and should be available soon! Download Explore Shanghai now and you’ll receive the free update as soon as it’s approved.

Stop us if you’ve heard this before… but after several false starts Shanghai Metro Line 10 will finally extend its opening times from July 3rd. Currently limited to 9am to 4pm, the new opening times will be 5.30am to 7.30pm. The times between trains will also be reduced to 6 minutes at peak times, down from 8 minutes.

Look out for updates to our online metro map and iPhone app soon!