Subway line to connect Beijing with new airport by 2019

Construction of a subway line connecting downtown Beijing with the capital's new airport is picking up pace and will be in service by 2019, the municipal government announced on Friday.

A trip on the 41.36-km line will take only 20 minutes, making it the fastest of its kind in China, the government said in a news release.

Meanwhile, the municipal government said that Beijing plans to build two streetcar lines in Fengtai district within the year.

The two streetcar lines will connect with two existing subway lines to improve the communications network in southern Beijing.

The streetcars are expected to be more environmentally friendly and cost-effective, as energy consumption of a streetcar is about one third of a traditional bus, which will help the capital cut emissions.