Beijing Subway Warms Up for Upcoming Olympic Games
The Beijing Subway system is warming up as the Olympic Games approach.
Since the new pricing system was adopted in Beijing on Oct.7, 2007, cutting the subways fares by about 30 percent and the opening of the new subway line South-North No.5, the number of subway passengers has been rising.
The Beijing subway network has seen a record number of passengers – 2.89 million passengers on Nov16, 2007.
With a total of 5 subway lines in operation and a length of 142 km, Beijing passengers now will need to take special measures to avoid transport peak hours, especially on weekdays.
Fridays are the days with the largest number of passengers.
According to Beijing urban planning authorities another 6 lines are expected to be completed by the year 2012: the No.6, 8, 9, the second phase of No.10 line as well as the YiZhuang and Daxing lines, making a total length of 152 km.
These measures follow a previous cutting of buses fares included in a program aimed to tackle traffic jams in the city.
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