Beijing's retired subway cars to be auctioned

　　BEIJING, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Some of China's oldest subway cars are to be auctioned in early September after more than 20 years in mothballs, the Beijing Exchange of Property Right announced on Wednesday.

　　The 41 cars, each 19 meters long and weighing 40 tons, hit the tracks in 1973, when Beijing opened its subway system.

　　With a service life of 12 years, they have long been left untouched since retirement in the 1980s, but remained in good condition, said an official with Beijing Subway Operation Co. (BSOC), the owner.

　　Prospective buyers had indicated they would convert the carriages into waste receptacles or more interesting projects. "Some want to convert the trains to bars, restaurants and even hotels," said the official.

　　The cars had reserve prices of 50,000 to 60,000 yuan (6,600 to 8,000 U.S. dollars) each.

　　It is the first auction of subway cars in China, which are difficult to dispose of.

　　Four hundred New York City subway cars were sunk in the Atlantic Ocean in 2001.