CONSTRUCTION of metro Line 2 in the Chinese city of Nanjing began on December 28, at the site of Xiangxinyu station. The 21·6 km line is due to open in 2009, at a cost of 9bn yuan. Running from Xishang Bridge to Maqun via Jiangdongmen, Suiximen and Mingu-gong, it will have 16 stations (MR 03 p42).
December saw the completion of tracklaying on the southern section of Nanjing Line 1, between Xiaohang and the future Line 2 interchange at Xinjiekou. Tracklaying on the remaining section will be finished by June. Revenue service on the whole route, including the western extension to Hexi, is due to start in September 2005, when the city will host China’s 10th National Games.
The city government has also started planning for a 10 km extension of Line 1 from Andemen to Jiangning.
