THE 5·4 km Xilang - Huangsha section of Guangzhou metro Line 1 and five stations were formally inaugurated on June 28, as part of the celebrations for the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty two days later. City and government officials were joined by representatives from the European and US contractors. The initial section forms the western end of the 18·5 km route, which will run from Xilang steelworks to Guangzhou East station, and includes a tunnel under the Pearl River.
Due to be completed next year, with 16 stations, Line 1 is expected to handle 450000 passengers/day on completion, rising to over 1 million by 2023. Total cost is put at 12·7bn yuan. Germany’s Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau is contributing a DM356m commercial loan and DM351m from the German government to support the electrical and mechanical contract awarded to a German consortium led by Siemens and Adtranz. Rolling stock is being built by Adtranz at Hennigsdorf (RG 12.95 p847).
According to Guangzhou Metro Corp General Manager Chen Qingquan, the municipal government has identified Line 2 from Shima to Xinzhou as its top infrastructure project for the next five-year plan. He hopes to receive approval from the State Planning Commission to start construction in 2000. o
