A hearing will be held next Wednesday to discuss ticket prices for the Beijing Capital International Airport Rail Line, which have been preliminarily set at 25 yuan (US$3.6) or 30 yuan for a one-way trip.

Compared with a 2-yuan ticket for the city's five metro lines, the price for the airport rail line is considered extremely high. However, officials of Beijing Airport Express Rail Co said this line would offer a better service than other public transport in the city. The price will be based on construction and operational costs, as well as passenger's consumption power.

At present, there are three ways to get to Beijing Capital International Airport ?? bus, taxi and private vehicles. If a passenger sets off at Dongzhimen, 23 kilometers from the airport, the airport bus will cost 16 yuan, a taxi 67 yuan and a private car 40 yuan.

"The price of 25 yuan or 30 yuan is definitely lower than that of a taxi or a private car, however, the airport rail line is more punctual and faster than a bus," company officials told Xinhuanet.com. "A group of taxi passengers and private car owners may choose to take the train, which may help reduce traffic jams around the airport."

There will be four stops on the airport rail line, but the price will be the same for each stop. "The distance between every stop is not very long and air passengers prefer single ticket prices because it's simple and convenient," officials said.

The rail line is expected to handle about 12.2 million passengers every year, if the ticket is priced at 25 yuan; the number will drop to 10.32 million if it is set at 30 yuan.

(Shanghai Daily June 27, 2008)