At the "High-Level Forum on Chinese Traffic Science & Technology and Management" now underway in Beijing, Vice-President Jiao Tongshan with the China Communications and Transportation Association disclosed that before the 1980s, China's orbital communications had only 40-km-long subways in Beijing. But after 10-odd-year development, the country has had 16 orbital traffic lines in nine cities, with a total length of 386.1 kilometers. Currently, there are 10 orbital traffic lines totaling over 270 kilometers under construction in five cities. It is estimated that by 2008 the total mileage of the country's orbital traffic lines will reach 650 kilometers. Apart from increase in mileage, China's orbital traffic has developed from the original single form of subway to diversified forms, such as Dalian's fast light rails, Chongqing's single track span-type rails, and Shanghai's magnetic suspension trains.

It is reported that currently there are over 30 cities that have begun the early-stage work for orbital traffic construction. After conducting research on and analyses of orbital communications in dozens of cities at home and abroad over the past several years, the China Communications and Transportation Association put forward the proposal: Subways can be built in cities each with a population of over 3 million, annual gross national product (GNP) exceeding 100 billion yuan, annual financial revenue over 10 billion yuan and an anticipated peak passenger flow of over 30,000 people per hour; light rails can be built in cities each with a population ranging between 1.5 million and 3 million, annual GNP ranging between 60 billion yuan and 100 billion yuan, annual financial revenue ranging from 6 billion yuan to 10 billion yuan and an anticipated peak flow of 10,000-30,000 passengers per hour.

By People's Daily Online