ON APRIL 16 Nanjing Metro ordered a fleet of 20 six-car metro trainsets from Alstom Transport, in partnership with Nanjing Puzhen Rolling Stock Works. They will operate on the 16·8 km north-south Line 1 from Zhangfuyuan to Sahshanjie, due to open in June 2006.

Signed in the presence of Mayor Luo Zhi Jun and Alstom Transport President Michel Moreau, the €160m contract is due to come into force on May 31. The first delivery is scheduled for May 2004. The trains will be based on Alstom's Metropolis design, which is also being supplied to Shanghai. The first train will be built at Valenciennes, with the rest to be assembled by Puzhen. Onix traction equipment will be produced by Alstom's joint venture SATEE in Shanghai.