The new Beijing subway line 5 opened on the 7th October and boasts a much improved metro system for Beijing: it connects from North to South, providing another vital step towards alleviating Beijing’s traffic problems. According to the government there have been improvements, though it does little overall to cut driving times.
The current network covers a total length of 142km but will increase to 200km for the olympics with the opening of the Line 10, Airport track, and spur line to the Olympic Park. By 2012 a further 152km will be added with six new lines. Only with an efficient transit network can Beijing realistically see improvements to its traffic situation ; unfortunately it means a wait of several more years. But at least the balls are rolling and the city is going in the right direction.