The Suzhou Subway Line S1 project, a 41.25-kilometer line between SIP and Kunshan, a county-level city under Suzhou's jurisdiction, saw new progress on Feb 23 as the first wall of the first of its 28 stations started construction.

The project is one of four subway lines to be built from 2018 to 2023 under Suzhou government's planning. Preparatory work including construction site clearing, pipeline relocation and safety measures has started since last November, and the whole project is scheduled to come into trial operation in December 2023.

With a design speed of up to 100 km/h, the new subway line is expected to help greatly alleviate local traffic pressure and improve urban traffic layout. Additionally, it will join Subway Line 11 of Shanghai and thus provide great convenience for travel between the two cities.