Trial run soon for China's longest subway

China’s longest subway, stretching 50 kilometers running southwest to northwest of Beijing, will begin its trial run by the end of 2010. Officials with Beijing MTR said construction of the extension line has already been completed and engineers are conducting operation tests.
The current Line 4, launched last year, is 28.2 kilometers long and has 24 stations. Local transportation officials say the extended Line 4 will significantly ease the heavy strain on roads in the southern part of the city.
Beijing is among the most congested cities in the world, with over 4 million private cars on the roads. However, authorities are rushing to build more subways to ease the traffic.
English People’s Daily Online reports five new subway lines, including the extension of Line 4, will open in 2010. Beijing plans to extend its subways to reach 561 kilometers by 2015.