CHINA; The 54·2 km Nanjing suburban Line S2 with 16 stations has opened as the region’s first inter-provincial commuter line.
Designated S2, the line was inaugurated at 10.00 on April 22, running from the Xishanqiao terminus of Nanjing metro’s Line 7 southwest to Taibai in the neighbouring city of Ma’anshan. An 11·7 km section of the new route is underground and the remainder elevated.
Line S2 has been jointly delivered by Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, which will now manage it together. Operationally it is fully integrated into the Nanjing metro system, including unified fares, taking the overall network length to 579 km serving 283 stations.
The S2 services are operated by 80 m long, four-car Type B 1·5 kV DC electric multiple-units, which have provision for future lengthening to six cars. They run at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. Loops at four stations enable the operation of a mix of stopping trains taking 52 min and express services taking 36 min.
An 11·3 km extension from Taibai to an interchange with Wuhu Rail Transit monorail Line 1 at Baoshunlu is being studied.