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Beijing subway intervals to be shortened to 2 minutes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-16 21:38

BEIJING - The minimum train intervals on Beijing's Metro Line 2 subway, one of the capital's busiest, will be shortened to two minutes next week, its operator said Thursday.

The company will cut the usual 2.5-minute interval between trains during rush hour by 30 seconds from next Tuesday for Line 2, which runs in a loop round the city center, Beijing Subway Operation Co. Ltd. spokesman said.

The interval is one of the shortest in the world, he said.

The train interval on the east-west Line 1, Beijing's first subway line, will be cut by 15 seconds from the previous 2.5 minutes, he said.

The subway operations have added new trains and tracks along both lines. It has also installed the world's most advanced signal system, making it possible to shorten the interval time.

Last July, the train intervals on Line 2 were shortened to 2.5 minutes ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Beijing has eight subway lines with 200 km of track, The system carried more than 1.2 billion passengers last year.