The construction of Beijing's first light railway will begin at the end of this month, the Beijing Subway Company said in Beijing on November 17.

Preparations are underway for the U-shaped 40.5-km light railway which will run from Xizhimen in the western part of the city to Dongzhimen in the east.

The light railway will travel at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour, and will allow residents living in the northern suburbs of Beijing to travel with greater convenience as the new line will play an important role in easing the city's already burdened transportation system.

The first phase of the project, which will start at Xizhimen and end at Huilongguan, is scheduled to be completed in 2001. The second phase from Huilongguan to Dongzhimen will be finished in 2005.

It will take only 10 minutes to go from Huilongguan to downtown Beijing by light rail, compared with more than an hour by bus.