SHANGHAI Metro Corp opened the northern extension of Line 1 on December 28, adding 12·4 km and nine stations.
Linking Shanghai Main station to Gong Fu Xin Cun, the line runs underground for the first 4·2 km serving three stations, and then on elevated alignment. SMC offers 3min headways on the existing route, and every fourth train has been extended to Gong Fu Xin Cun, giving a 12min interval service. This will be reduced to 9min from May.
Test running is due to start this year on the first section of Line 4, and the city hopes to expand the network from four lines totalling 82 km to 11 lines with over 400 km in time for the World Expo in 2010. Shanghai Tunnel Engineering & Rail Transit Research Institute is currently working on a master plan which envisages an eventual network of 17 lines totalling 810 km.
- Nanjing Metro has completed tests on Line 1, and expects to start revenue services on May 1. The 16·9 km north-south route runs from Maigaoqiao to Xiaohang. Work is underway on the 21·6 km east-west Line 2 from Zhonghechun to Maqun, which is due to open in 2008. Two extensions to Line 2 have been approved: 13·4 km running west from Jiqinmenlu to Baguazhou and 14·4 km from Maqun to a new town at Xianlin.
