Beijing Metro On Track To Be World's Longest

China's capital Beijing is to build 11 new rail lines, two of which will be operational in time for the Olympic Games in August.

Officials at the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission say the construction of the subway and overground rail lines will add 270km to the municipal rail track, almost doubling its size, writes official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The two overground rail lines will connect the airport with Beijing's transport hub of Dongzhimen, increasing the Beijing Metro's track length by about 200km.

The running distance of the rail network will total 561km by 2015, making Beijing's subways the largest in the world, according to Chinese officials.

By staff writer