Four new subway lines will be put into use in Shanghai, the host city of 2010 World Expo, this year, Shanghai's metro authorities said on Monday.

Among the four, a 14.25-km extended section of Line 8 will start trial operation in early July, said Shanghai Shentong Metro Co., Ltd. The other three lines will also start trial operation by the end of this year.

Five other lines under construction will also start operation tests this year and be put into use before the 2010 World Expo scheduled to open on May 1 next year.

By 2010, Shanghai will have 11 subway lines in operation for a total length of 400 km. Currently, the metropolis has eight lines in operation with a total length of 234 km. The daily passenger flow via subways stands at 3.5 million in the city.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2009)