New public transit line taps cheaper, quieter technology

Construction has started on a new public transportation line in Beijing that promises to be cheaper to build and run - and less noisy - than subways.

The city is building its first "maglev" line, short for magnetic levitation, a cutting-edge technology in rail transit. The line will have a top train speed of 80 km/h. It is expected to become operational before the end of next year.

Work on the 10-km Line S1, which will run through two of Beijing's western districts, Mentougou and Shijingshan, started on Monday, according to the project's contractor, CREC 6th Engineering Group's Beijing Railway Construction Co.