The first phase of Guangzhou's subway Line 9, which is recognized as the first metro line built on karst in China, was provided with an electric power supply on Sunday. The power will be used for future construction projects along the line.
The 20.1-kilometer-long metro line passes through six fault zones with about 50 percent of them being karst caves. Due to the challenges posed by the complex landform, the line is extremely difficult to construct, according to a professor from the China Engineering Academy.
To solve the problem, the technology of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been applied in the construction of the power supply system, said Zhang Futao, the project manager from the China Railway Electrification Bureau Group.
A test run for the first phase of the line is scheduled for December.