CHINA: The first metro line in Jinan was inaugurated on January 1. Line R1 connects Fangte and Gongyanyuan. Of the 26·3 km route, a 16·2 km section with seven stations is elevated and 10·1 km with four stations runs underground.
Services are operated with four-car trainsets, which are stabled at a depot near Fangte. These draw power at 1·5 kV DC from overhead wires. All stations are equipped with platform screen doors and have provision for six-car sets. The line is designed for 100 km/h operation.
The National Development & Reform Commission approved construction in June 2015, and work started the following month.
Two more lines are under construction. Due to open in January 2020, Line R3 will be 19·9 km long with 17 stations. Line R2 is due to open a year after that and will serve 19 stations on a 36·4 km route. Four further lines are proposed.
