A station at subway line 10 [Photo source: china.cn]

The highly anticipated Olympic subway line 10 will open before July 20. Another two lines, the Olympic branch line and the airport link, will open on the same day.

Zhou Zhengyu, deputy director of Beijing's Communication Committee, says that the opening of the three lines will greatly ease the mounting traffic pressure in Beijing and provide more efficient services for citizens, especially during the Olympics.

"It is the first time that Beijing has opened three rails at one time. Most importantly, it will provide direct services for the Olympics. The three lines connect with each other, and the Olympic line will lead directly to the Olympic venues. The opening of the three lines means that a rail transit network has been formed in Beijing."

Line 10 has been under construction since December 2003. The line is expected to have the most stations of any one subway line. The first segment of line 10, which will open on weekends, is 24.55 kilometers long. It starts near Bagou in northwestern Beijing, passes through Zhongguancun and the Olympic venues, and ends on East 3rd Ring Road in the central business district.

The Olympic line is one of the key updates to Beijing's public transport system to ensure a successful Olympic Games. It runs through Beitucheng Station, Olympic Sports Centre station, Olympic Park station and Forest Park station. The branch line will make history as the only subway line equipped with a direct drinking water supply system and a fully-enclosed shield door system.

Olympic branch line of Beijing metro [Photo source: beijing2008.cn]

The airport express link will run from Dongzhimen to Beijing Capital International Airport. The line has a four-kilometer underground section and 23 kilometers of elevated track. It will have only four stops: Dongzhimen (with interchanges to Lines 2 and 13), Sanyuanqiao (interchange to Line 10), and Airport Terminals 2 and 3. Ticket prices for the airport link are still under discussion.

An express train at a station of the Beijing airport line [Photo source: sina.com]