Taiyuan Metro

The Taiyuan Metro is a rapid transit system in Taiyuan, capital of China's Shanxi province. The system opened on December 26, 2020.

Line 1 has been under construction since 30 December 2019 and is scheduled to open in 2024.

History
The Taiyuan Metro project was officially launched in September 2009, with the establishment of the Taiyuan Metro Preparation Office. The office prepared the construction proposal and network plan, which after being approved by the Taiyuan city government were sent to the central government for approval. The National Development and Reform Commission approved the first phase of the proposal (2012−18) on 5 September 2012, and construction of Line 2 began on 2 November 2013.

Line 2
Line 2 was the first line to be built and opened on December 26, 2020. It crosses the main urban area of Taiyuan in a north-south direction. Construction began on 2 November 2013. The first phase consists of 23 stations and 23.647 km of track between Xiqiao Station in the south and Jiancaoping Station in the north. The line uses 24 six-car Type A automated trains.

Line 1
Line 1 is the next line scheduled for construction. The planned route runs between Xishan Mining Bureau Station to Wusu Airport Station, and passes high traffic areas such as Taiyuan West Bus Station, Taiyuan University of Technology, Great South Gate, Wuyi Square, and Taiyuan Railway Station. Line 1 will consist of 24 underground stations and 28.575 km of track. Construction started on December 30, 2019. It is projected to be completed in 2024.

Future Development
Six more lines are being planned, and by 2030, the network is expected to comprise seven lines with a total length of 233.6 km and 150 stations.

The entire network is scheduled to be built in three phases lasting 17 years. The first phase, consisting of Line 1 and Line 2, with a combined 49.2 km of track, is to be built from 2013 to 2020. This phase is projected to cost 30.9 billion yuan to build, or 628 million yuan per kilometre. During the second phase, from 2018 to 2020, Line 3, Line 4, and the second phase of Line 2 are expected to be completed, extending the network to 116.2 km. The rest of the network is planned to be built between 2020 and 2030, completing the 233.6 km network.