A subway train from Shanghai arrives at Kunshan on April 28. [Photo/Suzhou Daily]

A trial subway train left Anting Station in Shanghai for Huaqiao in Jiangsu province at 12:10am on April 28. Running at a speed of 5 kilometers per hour, the train passed through two stations and eventually stopped at Huaqiao Station in Jiangsu province. The line marks the first trans-regional metro line ready for operation in the country.

The metro line is an extension of Shanghai subway’s Line 11. Huaqiao has preserved the construction space for track traffic construction since the project of Line 11 began in 2007. Approved by the National Development and Reform Committee, the project started in June 2011 with an investment of 1.85 billion yuan ($300 million), according to Suzhou Daily.

The total length of the extension is about 6 kilometers. It is an elevated section with three stations: Zhaofeng Road Station, Guangming Road Station and Huaqiao Station.

The newly-built line is scheduled to kick off trial operation in September this year. Connecting Huaqiao and Shanghai, the metro line will strengthen economic and trade cooperation between Jiangsu and Shanghai and improve regional competitiveness.

Edited by Michael Thai and Li Xiaoliang