Beijing's new subway Line 6 is being criticized for not having its escalators working yet.

Passengers have to use long flights of stairs to get to platforms, in some cases as many as 128 stairs, the equivalent of seven floors, Beijing Morning Post reported on Thursday.

Older passengers and those carrying luggage have been reporting they have been exhausted climbing the steps, sparking suggestions that using the new line, at least lets passengers keep fit.

About 20 stations opened to the public on Dec 28 in the first phrase of the line's completion. There are reported to be 700 elevators installed, but they are all currently undergoing tests.

The company responsible for the elevators didn't give the exact date when passengers can use the elevators.