Quotable

Compared with a subway, commuter trains' construction, operation and maintenance costs are much cheaper. But whether Beijing needs to open more commuter train routes should be decided based on comprehensive public demand."

Wu Jianping, a professor at Tsinghua University, talking about the advantage of commuter trains in a Beijing Youth Report on Thursday. Some netizens said recently that taking commuter trains to some suburban areas in Beijing is more comfortable and would cost less than taking the subway, as the ticket price for public transport in the capital is expected to rise.