Dalian subway system will launch its operation in April, Peng Fei, an official with the city's subway construction department, told the 80 residents who took a test ride on Wednesday.

According to Peng, the first phase of the city's subway Line 1 (north-south) and Line 2 (east-west) reaches 38.4 kilometers in total.

The lines will start operating separately in April and June. The commuters are expected to embrace the subway to relieve the increasing traffic congestion. The construction of Dalian's subway started in March 2010.