Construction of all sections of Beijing's No. 5 Subway Line has been started, and most part of the 44 sections and 46 stations of the No.4 and No.10, another two important lines of the city, will also be kicked off by this yearend, as learned recently from Beijing Rail Transportation Construction and Management Co,. Ltd.

Construction work of the No.5 Subway Line is now in full swing, and after 19 months' efforts 44 percent of the whole project has been completed. The No. 4 and No.10 lines also saw 4 and 8 stations break ground respectively not long ago, said Liu Hong Tao, deputy manager of the corporation.

Before this yearend, Liu estimated, most stations of the No.5, No.4.and No.10 lines (including the Olympic subline) would be under smooth construction, being the first time in the history of subway construction that a city sees three lines under construction simultaneously.

Before Beijing holds the Olympic Games in 2008, the city's total mileage of rail transportation will reach 280 kilometers with doubled passenger numbers. By that time there will be 20 percent residents going out by subway.

Beijing now has a total mileage of 113.4 kilometers in operation and in 2002 ten percent residents went out by subway, said Luo Furong, deputy general manager of the corporation. The three lines currently under construction will all be completed before 2008 and a few other lines are also under planning.

In its 2050 long-term plan, Beijing will build two rail network, including one consists 15 subway M lines and 7 light rail L lines (total length 693 kilometers) and one consists 5 trunk lines and 1 sub line (total length 360 kilometers). By then the city's total rail mileage will reach 1,053 kilometers.

By People's Daily Online