Shanghai, China's economic powerhouse, will build eight tram lines during the 2005-2012 period, according to sources with the municipal tram construction headquarters.

The new lines, with a total length of 389 kilometers, are expected to help ease the city's traffic congestion in the coming seven years.

The No.7 tram line, 35 kilometers in length with 28 stations, starts from Chentai Road of Baoshan District and ends at Fangdian Road in Pudong New Area. The line will be put into operation at the end of 2009.

Designed to serve as a traffic artery for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the No.7 tram line will traverse Suzhou River, Huangpu River and a dozen commercial zones in Shanghai.

It is estimated that during the 2010 World Expo period, the No.7 tram line will carry some 120,000 to 150,000 passengers or one sixth of the projected total passenger flow during the fair.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2005)