Beijing completed a subway safety check Thursday and declared the 40-year-old network secure, despite some potential safety problems, an expert said.

The evaluation program, the first since the subway system was put into use in Beijing in late 1960's, has analyzed security factors for the No.1 and No.2 subway routes, said Wang Tong, specialized in the science of labor protection.

However, trains that have been operating about 40 years account for nearly 42 percent of Beijing's metro trains. These pose a potential threat to passengers' security, said Wang.

Beijing has been renovating the security and telecommunication systems in the subway networks since 2003, investing 4.3 billion yuan (US$518 million). By the end of 2007, 182 subway trains will have been phased out on schedule.

The current subway routes have been well equipped with respirators, blast shelters, fire extinguishers, warning system, smoke emission and fire control systems. A set of emergency measures in dealing with blast, fire, and terrorist attacks have also been worked out.

Wang said he believed that the subway's security situation has "obviously improved" in just one year due to the government's efforts.

So far, Beijing has seen operation of three subway routes and another elevated train route with 70 stations and a total length of 114 kilometers. The systems passenger capacity exceeding 600 million people last year.

The north-to-south No. 4 and No. 5 lines, plus the east-to-west No. 10 line are now under construction and expected to be finished before 2008, when the city will host the Olympic Games.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2005)