According to Oriental Morning Post, the high-profile extension project of Shanghai Metro Line 11 north to Huaqiao, Kunshan, will go through an experimental run at intervals of 10 to 15 minutes in line with its operational plan this week. After passing an acceptance test at the end of September, it is expected to start a pilot run in October.
The total length of this extension project, between Anting and Huaqiao, is 6 kilometers. It covers 440 meters in Shanghai and 5 kilometers in Kunshan. Three stations are located on its viaduct: Zhaofenglu Road Station, Guangminglu Road Station and Huaqiao Station.
It costs at least 3 yuan ($0.49) to take the subway in Shanghai, with additional fees of 1 yuan for every 10 miles. The costs will likely to be the same from Anting Station to Huaqiao Station, adding up to a total of 12 yuan for the whole journey. But the fare will not be finalized until after the inspection. At present, Shanghai and Kunshan use two different systems and require separate public transport IC cards.
The Huaqiao section of Line 11 will cover Kunshan for the first time, making it the first trans-provincial rail network nationwide. Consequently, Kunshan will be the first county-level city to have a subway. The line will play a significant role in developing the local economy in Kunshan and promoting business cooperation between Jiangsu and Shanghai.
Other citizens are more concerned about when the rail transit between Shanghai and Suzhou will start construction. The NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission) in the demonstration zone of modernization construction in south Jiangsu suggests that the five cities of south Jiangsu speed up construction to connect the rail transit system, especially between Shanghai and Suzhou. However, due to limited construction land, it will be a long time before Line S1 connecting Shanghai and Suzhou can go into use.
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