Construction on Chinese city Dalian’s first metro project has been started on three out of the proposed nine subway lines.

The lines include subway lines 1, 2 and 4 and will cover 58.1km.

The construction will cost an estimated ¥22bn ($3.2bn).

The lines will run trains at a speed of 80kmph and will carry 38,000 people every hour.

Lines 1 and 2 are expected to be complete by 2012. Completion time for line 4 has not been announced.

A detailed plan for the remaining six lines is underway.