Beijing to begin monorail construction

Beijing is expected to start construction of the Yuquanlu Line, the city's first straddle-beam monorail, this year and it is expected to go into operation in 2015, the relevant authority said.

The China Academy of Railway Sciences released an environmental impact assessment of the Yuquanlu Line project on Sunday on its website.

The 24-km-long Yuquanlu Line will pass the capital's southwestern area and have 21 stations, according to the statement.

It will have seven transfer stations to connect with eight subway lines in Beijing.

Straddle-beam monorail is the most common type of monorail. The elevated monorail will avoid red lights, intersection turns and traffic jams.

The Yuquanlu Line is expected to attract passengers from the crowded subway lines in Beijing's main urban area, according to the statement.