Singapore opens new subway line

Singapore opened the first stage of its new Downtown Line on Saturday. It marks the beginning of plans to double Singapore's rail network to 360 kilometers by 2030, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said. The first stage of the Downtown Line cover six stations along the 4.3 kilometer line in the central business district of Singapore, such as Chinatown, Telok Ayer, Downtown, Bayfront, Promenade and Bugis. The second stage of the line will be ready in 2013, with a third stage expected to open in 2017. Once fully completed, the line of 42 kilometers will be one of the world's longest driverless underground subway line.