Beijing launches new subway lines in time for the Olympics
Beijing opened two new subway lines on Sunday, delayed from a planned late-June start but just in time to carry passengers banned from their cars as the capital tries to clean up its skies before next month’s Olympics.
Passenger service has yet to start, however, on a third line that will serve the Olympic Green and was the site of an opening ceremony and test ride for the media on Sunday morning.
An official with the Beijing subway operating company said it was not clear when the line would begin regular service.
The three new lines, which cost 22.3 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) to build and are part of massive infrastructure plans to ease transport during the Games, will increase the city’s subway lines to eight and expand their reach by 40 percent to 200 km (125 miles).
Eager crowds rushed through the turnstyles when the airport line formally opened in the afternoon.
Inside subway cars on the Number 10 line, a commuter route, many watched clips of professional basketball games on video screens that are also due to carry live shots of the Olympics.
In addition to shuttling Olympic visitors around town, the new lines will boost transport options for Beijing’s residents, whose rising wealth has triggered a boom in car ownership and severely worsened the city’s chronic smog and traffic jams.
The Beijing authorities, eager to improve air quality before the Games start on August 8, will restrict vehicle use to alternate days for even and odd numbered licence plates starting yesterday.
This will require an additional 4 million people to rely on the public transport system, according to the official Xinhua news agency.
No problems mentioned
While the new lines’ maiden journeys went off with no apparent hitches, Zhou Zhengyu, deputy head of the Beijing Municipal Committee of Communications, sidestepped a question at a Thursday news conference about whether there would be enough time to iron out any kinks before the Games kick off.
Nor did he say if there had been any problems with construction that might have delayed the opening, originally due by late June.
Beijing has largely avoided the problems the last Olympic host, Athens, encountered with delayed infrastructure projects, and has won praise from the International Olympic Committee for finishing venue construction work either on time or ahead of schedule.
Reuters
Comments
China is doing a lot of things and getting prepared for the biggest event. Here is a sad news which I have watched on T.V today, Bomb blasts in a Bus and there were many causalities. I think that is another attempt to fear people. I hope that it will not happen during the event.
Great info – keep up the great work.
Wow, that is one beatiful subway! Over the years we got used to hear stories like this one coming from Japan or eventually South Korea… But I guess we better get used to expect such news from China as well!
Looks like this event is going to be bigger then ever! I bet all the hotels will be maxed out, and tourism will come to a halt when Olympics begin! I mean who would spend 3.3 billion dollars if they knew they would get them back! Anyway other then money, can’t wait for the Olympics to start, its’ going to be off the hook!
I think that is the biggest event going to be there.
Violin, No fears for that. It is happening all around the world so just enjoy the event and forget everything else.
I am waiting August 8 desperately because it is going to keep me busy for many days. I love to see all Olympics Live transmission and i love to see China’s Culture as well.
I couldn’t stop myself to appraise Chinese Government. They are doing big efforts. As I have seen on T.V, They have shutdown steel mills as well just to reduce the pollution and smoke in the air. Subway is beautiful.
That is one nice looking subway! I wonder how long it will stay that nice after the heavy use it is going to this next month. I was recently in New York and China subway has got it beat for sure!
I like what they did with the subway. I saw an article this weekend that said that they had finally cleared up all the smog around the stadium! Let the Games Begin!
the subway is good finishing and maintenance. Chinna is doing wel a lot of things and getting prepared for the biggest event of Olympics.