Most of the line is elevated that runs parallel to the Jintang Expressway. Hence, it is often wrongly called "light rail", as is commonplace in China with elevated or at-grade metro lines. Trains can reach a speed of up to. Of the 4 bridges along the line, the No. 1 and No. 4 bridges are longer and use ballastless track, while the No. 2 and No. 3 bridges use ballasted track. The No. 1 bridge, from Guanghua Road to Babao, with a total length of, is the longest bridge used in rapid transit systems in China.
History
Line 9 first opened on 28 March 2004. It was extended to on 15 October 2012, connecting with the main metro network by allowing passengers to transfer to Lines 2 and 3. Train service on the whole line was suspended on 13 August 2015 after a series of massive explosions devastated the area. The explosions occurred less than a kilometre from Donghailu station; the roof of the station collapsed, and the control centre nearby was destroyed. It resumed operation on 16 December from Tianjin Railway Station to Tianjin Pipe Corporation Station.
2004 March 28 - Trial service begins, 6 stations are open to service: Zhongshanmen, Donglikaifaqu, Gangguangongsi, Yanghuoshichang, Dongtinglu, and Donghailu. The price of the tickets are 3 yuan for less than 30 km or 5 yuan for greater than 30 km. The first train departs at 07:00 and the last at 19:00. Hujiayuan is a special station only open to BMT staffs and Huizhanzhongxin station near TEDA football field is only open for football matches and other special events.
2004 May 25 - Yihaoqiao station opens for service
2004 September 13 - Extends open time to 06:30 - 19:00
2005 March 27 - Huizhanzhongxin station opens on normal days
2005 April 28 - Erhaoqiao station opens, Yihaoqiao station closes. Automatic ticket selling and checking system begins use. The price of a ticket changes to 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 yuan, depending on the travel distance. Extends open time to 06:30 - 20:00.
Late 2005 or early 2006 - Yanghuoshichang station changed name to Tanggu; Dongtinglu changed name to TEDA.
2006 March 1 - Yihaoqiao station reopens; Xinlizhen, Xiaodongzhuang, Junliangcheng, Hujiayuan stations open, so all 14 stations that have been constructed are open.
2006 March 28 - At 11 a.m., the trains begin automatic train operation; the total travel time from Zhongshanmen to Donghailu decreases from 49 min to 47.5 min.
2006 May 1 - Extends open time to 06:30 - 21:00.
2010 May 1 - Shiyijing Road to Zhongshanmen was opened
2015 August 12 - the 2015 Tianjin explosions caused significant damage; all operations are suspended.
