The first phase of the Nantong Metro Line 1 starts trial operation without passenger on May 8. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The first phase of the Nantong Metro Line 1 in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province started trial operations on May 8.

The trial operation, which is mostly focused on the testing of systems and does not involve transporting passengers, will last three months.

Drivers operate the metro car running on Nantong Metro Line 1. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Spanning about 39 kilometers, the first phase has 28 stations and runs from Pingchao Station in Tongzhou district to Zhengxing Road Station in Hai'an, a county-level city in Nantong.

Metro cars are will operate at a speed of 80 km per hour and is designed to carry a maximum of 2,132 passengers.