Beijing subway line expands reach

Two extensions of the subway Line 8 in Beijing will start trial operations on Saturday, traffic authorities said.

The northern extension of Line 8, spanning 6.3 km, and the southern extension, with 3.2 km, will have five stations.

The two extensions' trial operation will enable the north-to-south Line 8 to link all of the east-to-west subway lines in northern Beijing, with six transfer stations in total.

Beijing Commission of Transport said on Wednesday that the total length of Line 8 was expected to reach 26.6 km by the end of this year.

By then, the total length of Beijing subway lines will reach 465 km.