The first train of the second subway line in Nantong debuts on Dec 15. [Photo/WeChat account: ntjoy2012]

The first train of the second subway line in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, made its debut on Dec 15, marking the completion of construction on the subway line.

There are 21 trains with a combined 126 carriages designed for the second subway line, which can operate at a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour and accommodate up to 2,132 passengers at once.

Inspired by the Yangtze finless porpoise, which is known as the "giant panda of the water", the train is blue and white in color. Its face looks like a Yangtze finless porpoise, while the blue strip on the body features classic patterns of blue calico, a national intangible cultural heritage item in Nantong, and the Yangtze finless porpoise playing with water.

The interior of the train operating on the second subway line in Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: ntjoy2012]

The interior, including seats and handrails, also highlights the features of Yangtze finless porpoises. Above each carriage door, a liquid crystal display shows the dynamic map of the stations along the subway line.

In addition, due to a lightweight design, the 21 trains are expected to save 6.02 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year compared to traditional ones.

The second subway line is scheduled to open in the city in 2023. Costing nearly 16.17 billion yuan ($2.32 billion), the first phase of the subway line stretches 20.85 km and has 17 stations connecting Chongchuan and Tongzhou districts.