CHINA: The 28·7 km first phase of Harbin metro Line 2 opened on September 19.
The fully underground line runs from Jiangbei University Town in the north to Meteorological Observatory in the east, with 19 stations including an interchange with Line 1 at Bowuguan in the city centre.
The line was approved by the National Development & Reform Commission in July 2012 as part of a wider urban rail plan for the city. Construction began in August 2015, and trial running began in May 2021.
In September 2020 Changchun Bombardier Railway Vehicles Co was awarded a 1·2bn yuan contract to supply 65 six-car Type B trainsets, of which 36 are used on Line 2 alongside aluminium bodied Type B2 trainsets manufactured by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen. The other 29 trains will be used on the circular Line 3, which is due to be completed in 2022.
The Line 2 depot near Jiangbei University Town station is equipped with monitoring technology using artificial intelligence, and the electrical substations are remotely monitored and equipped with maintenance robots.
Extensions are planned at both ends of Line 2, taking it 9·8 km further north and adding eight stations, and a further 4·3 km east with three stations.
