World
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Multiple metro openings all over the world
PAKISTAN’S first metro system in Lahore began on October 25 when the 27.1km long ‘Orange Line’ opened.
Serving the city’s main station, the east-west line runs mainly on concrete viaducts, but has two tunnel sections totalling 1.72km.
The line has been built by Pakistani companies to Chinese metro standards, with funds from Chinese banks. A fleet of 27 five-car Type B 750V DC third- rail EMUs has been supplied by Chinese company CRRC.
Despite the pandemic, many new and extended metro lines have opened this year. In China alone, new lines or extensions opened in Chengdu, Shenzhen and Wuxi in October.
Europe
In Europe new lines have opened in Copenhagen, Warsaw and Sofia, while in Istanbul operation of the initial 18.5km Mecidiyeköy to Mahmutbey section of the driverless Line M7 Kabataş to Esenyurt route on the European side of the Bosporus began on October 28. Hyundai Rotem has supplied 30 four-car EMUs for the route.
The eastern extension of the new line from Mecidiyeköy to Kabataş has been delayed, in part because of archaeological discoveries, but the western extension from Mahmutbey to Esenyurt is not currently being built.
The first section of the third cross-city line of the Minsk Metro was opened by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on November 6.
Extensions at both ends are planned. Services will be operated by six four-car Stadler M110/M111 EMUs, built at Stadler's factory near Minsk.
Extensions are due to open in December in both Berlin (Line U5, Alexanderplatz to Brandenburger Tor) and Paris (Line 14, St Lazare to Mairie de Saint-Ouen).