Construction is set to start in November on the first of five metro lines planned in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province in northeast China.
Shenyang vice-mayor Zhao Changyi confirmed work would start at the end of this year on the 22km east-west line which will have 18 stations. Construction of the 18.8km north-south Line 2 would begin in October 2006 and includes a crossing of the Huihe river.
The two lines, which have a combined cost of US$2.11bn and are due to open in 2010, were approved by the central government in Beijing.The project is being overseen by the Shenyang Subway Construction Office headed by director, Tong Jingshi. No details of the three other lines have been confirmed, although the entire network will cover about 182.5 km.
The Shenyang city government will provide US$1.06bn towards the cost of constructing the first two lines. The rest of the cash will be in the form of loans mainly from the China Development Bank which has agreed to advance the cash.
