Construction of the first phase of metro line 3 of Shenyang city, capital of northeastern Liaoning province, started on Dec 28, according to rail officials.

The 41.27-kilometer-long metro line starts from the new BMW plant in the west and ends at the Xintai Road in the east, they said.

It runs through important areas such as Shenyang Economic and Technological Development Zone, Yuhong New Zone, the Huaxiang and Shashan residential areas, the Nanhu area and the Dongda area.

There are a total of 30 stations along the route, with nine stations above ground and 21 underground.

In order to adapt to the snowy and cold climate in Shenyang, the above-ground stations will have fully enclosed platforms -- and some stations will be equipped with a maternity and child service areas and additional convenience rooms to provide passengers with a relatively comfortable waiting environment .

The metro line is estimated to be ready to commence operations in 2025.

Rail officials said that when connected to the other operating metro lines, metro line 3 will significantly help relieve road traffic pressure and optimize the city’s transport infrastructure.