On February 25, reporters learned from the press conference of the Jinan Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government that this year Jinan Rail Transit Group will comprehensively accelerate rail transit construction and make every effort to promote the "four-network integration" of intercity railways, regional railways, urban rail transit, and medium-capacity rail transit.

At present, the first-phase construction plan of Jinan rail transit has been successfully completed, and the second-phase construction plan has been fully launched. Major tasks such as ensuring the opening of the Jinan-Qingdao high-speed railway and the start of construction of the Jinan-Laiwu high-speed railway have been successfully completed. The provincial capital has entered the "subway era" and is accelerating the building of a provincial capital metropolitan area on rails. This year, the Rail Transit Group will accelerate the construction of key provincial and municipal projects, including the four lines in the second-phase rail transit plan (Phase II of Line 3, Phase I of Line 4, Line 6, and Phase I of Line 8), the Jiyang District (Pilot Zone) tram, and the Jinan-Laiwu high-speed railway project, and will effectively ensure funding contributions for projects such as the Jinan-Zhengzhou high-speed railway, Jinan-Zaozhuang high-speed railway, and Huangtai connecting line.

The second-phase construction plan for Jinan urban rail transit was approved in October 2020. In accordance with the state's requirements for rail transit construction to "act within capabilities and advance in an orderly manner," this year the Rail Transit Group will focus on advancing the construction of Phase II of Line 3, Phase I of Line 4, Line 6, and Phase I of Line 8. At present, the feasibility studies and preliminary designs for Phase II of Line 3 and Phase I of Line 4 have been approved, and the project procedures are being accelerated. For Line 6 and Phase I of Line 8, the Group is currently working with relevant departments to accelerate preliminary preparations. In addition, preliminary scheme research and procedure application work for Phase I of Line 7 and Phase I of Line 9 are being carried out simultaneously.

Building a "mi-shaped" high-speed rail network is an important support for building a model city in the transportation powerhouse and realizing the strategy of strengthening the provincial capital. The Rail Transit Group conscientiously implements the decisions and arrangements of the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, accelerates the construction of relevant high-speed rail projects, and ensures the funding needs of relevant projects. To ensure early opening to traffic, more than 2,000 people worked continuously during the Spring Festival on the Jinan-Laiwu high-speed railway project undertaken by the Group. Construction has started on all 50 key bridges and 20 key tunnels along the line, and subgrade works at Jinan East Station, Xueye Station, Laiwu North Station, and Gangcheng Station have fully begun. According to the construction plan, efforts will be made to achieve breakthrough progress on key tunnels, bridges, and subgrades by the end of the year. In addition, as the main funding entity for land acquisition and demolition and for construction costs of some municipal-funded projects such as the Jinan-Zhengzhou high-speed railway, Jinan-Zaozhuang high-speed railway, and Huangtai connecting line, the Group is doing everything possible to broaden financing channels and fully ensure funding contributions.

At present, under the condition that the scale of subway construction is limited, planning and implementing medium-capacity rail transit projects is an effective supplement for accelerating regional transportation integration and rapidly improving the transportation capacity of a strong provincial capital. At present, with the strong support of provincial and municipal departments, the project proposal and related special reports for the Jiyang District (Pilot Zone) tram have been approved. The Rail Transit Group will accelerate preliminary preparations for the project, ensure that construction starts as soon as possible, help the old and new growth driver conversion starting zone gain momentum quickly, and help accelerate the implementation of the provincial capital's "northward rise" strategy.

The Rail Transit Group will also make full preparations for the initial operation of Line 2 and complete the pre-initial operation safety assessment for Line 2 to ensure that Line 2 smoothly enters initial operation. Metro Line 2 began trial operation on December 29, 2020. At present, construction and equipment installation and commissioning are proceeding in an orderly manner, personnel and materials are basically in place, and trial operation is stable and sound. The pre-initial operation safety assessment is planned for mid-to-late March. Once the safety assessment is passed and approval is obtained from the government authorities, Line 2 will enter the initial operation stage, at which time residents can purchase tickets and ride.