The transit authority said Beijing is going to build a tramway line, 8.8km long, as both tourist transportation and public transportation. Dating back to 1966, the last tramway in the city ran from Beijing Gymnasium to the south railway station; after 50 years, a new tramway line comes back to Beijing. The line is expected to have six stations in total, connecting tourist spots in western Beijing such as the Summer Palace, Fragrant Hill and the Beijing Botanical Garden.
The tram is 10 meters wide and 32 meters long, and will have the capacity of 300 passengers per car. The official estimates maximum capacity of the line will reach 10,000 passengers per hour each way. The project will cost 4.7 billion yuan (680 million U.S. dollars), and a new company will be established.