Construction of a subway line in Beijing's central business district could start this year, a designer said after the first environmental impact assessment report on the line was published on Tuesday by a railway research institute.

Line 28, the highest numbered subway line in Beijing, will be 6.5 kilometers long, including 8 stations, and will cross the CBD area from north to south, connecting many other subway lines, according to the EIA report published by China Academy of Railway Sciences.

The line will start from Dongdaqiao station in the north, the transfer to Line 6 and Line 17 that is currently under construction, pass the CBD area to the south and will end at the Jiulongshan station, the transfer to Line 7 and 14.

The designer, who did not give his name, told the Beijing Daily that the locations of other stations were still uncertain, but there would be one at Beijing East Railway Station.

An initial plan showed that an automated people mover system will be used for the line. The APM train cars are equipped with rubber wheels. This technology has been used on a short line at the Beijing Capital International Airport.

The designer said they will consider the large passenger flow of the CBD area when thinking of technology to improve transport efficiency of the line.

According to a plan, the new line will open to the public in 2020.