On March 8, two months after four new lines started operation, Beijing's 16 metro lines have completed more than ten million passenger rides per day, officially making it the busiest subway in the world, Beijing Morning Post reported.

Four lines, including Line 6 (first phase), Line 10 (second phase), Line 8 (south) and Line 9 (north), started running. So far Beijing has a total of 16 lines with an operational length of 442 kilometers; the number of stations currently stands at 261, including 36 transfer stations. Compared to 2002, the Beijing subway has added 388 kilometers to its tracks.

As the number of kilometers increased, the travelers also increased. In 2002, there were 1.32 million subway rides per day. Last year, this number went up to eight million, an all-time high. Until March 1, the number of rides went as high as nine million per day. On March 8, this record broke the ten million mark, surpassing Moscow to become the busiest subway on the planet.

"We probably will often see the number of ten million this year," Zhan Minghui, head of Beijing's track traffic control center, said.

The Line 1 and Batong lines' passenger pressure have been eased, according to some Beijing citizens interviewed by Beijing Morning Post. Zhan said the new lines help doing so. For new lines, Zhan noted, the Line 6 train will have eight cars, offering the biggest capacity for trains serving on the Beijing subway.

For the heaviest-pressured Line 10, the subway operational company has applied for 17 additional trains. And the time gaps between two trains will be shortened to two minutes, Zhan said, which will allow for more passengers to board and go.

Zhan also added that to ensure passengers' safety, the subway company installed a great amount of video monitors and will limit the passengers' entry at a proper time if necessary.

According to him, by 2016, Beijing will open more lines to ease traffic pressure and help new areas in the city develop. Its track-mileage will be extended to 663 kilometers.