KONE Corporation, an international engineering and service company, announced July 28 that it will deliver 107 escalators to the first phase of the R2 metro line in Jinan, the capital of eastern China's Shandong province. Traditionally a major bus transportation hub, Jinan opened its first metro line only in 2019. Currently, two lines are in service.

The new line will be 36.4 kilometres in length, including a 34.5-kilometre underground section. It is projected to become the east-west backbone of the Jinan Rail Transit network, traveling between Wangfuzhuang and Pengjiazhuang through 19 stations.

The line will connect some major areas in Jinan, such as the old town, the newer part of the city in the west, and the Jinan High-tech Industrial Development Zone in the eastern part of the city. The R2 line will also be connected to the two existing metro lines R1 and R3.

For efficient people flow, KONE will equip 10 of the stations from Shengchanlu to Pengjiazhuang with 107 KONE TransitMaster escalators. The contract also includes two years of standard maintenance.

“We are excited to contribute to Jinan’s rapidly developing infrastructure and help make metro travel safer and smoother for the city’s commuters,” says William B. Johnson, executive vice president, KONE Greater China.  

The project is estimated to be completed by the end of the year, and is developed by Jinan Rail Transit Group Co Ltd. KONE booked the order in Q1 2020.