Beijing will shorten the minimum intervals between subway trains in the city starting next Monday, in a bid to diminish overcrowded traffic flow.

Website Xinhuanet.com reported that the Beijing Mass Transit Railway Operation Corporation will cut minimum intervals between trains to two and a half minutes on Line 1, and three minutes along Line 13.

The current minimum intervals are two minutes and forty-five seconds for Line 1, and three and a half minutes for Line 13.

The move will increase transport capacity by 10 percent on Line 1, and 17 percent on Line 13.

After facilities are improved, the transport authority will also cut intervals on Line 2, to two minutes.

To date, only a handful of subway lines in cities like Hong Kong and London have been capable of running on minimum intervals under two and a half minutes.

(CRI December 21, 2007)