Han Ximin

    METRO Line 2 is expected to benefit commuters after the opening of the eastern extension from the Window of the World to Xinxiu in Luohu District on June 28.

    The 20.6-km extension with 17 stations on Line 2, also known as the Shekou Line, goes through tourist, residential and office areas in the Shenzhen CBD.

    The 35.78-km trip from Chi Wan Station in Shekou to Luo Hu Station is expected to take one hour and departure intervals would be shortened to five minutes during rush hour, according to Shenzhen Metro Group, which took more than 300 residents for a test ride Saturday.

    “Compared with Line 1, the trains on Line 2 are more environmentally friendly using LED lighting,” said Zhang Yong, a Shenzhen Metro Operation Co. manager.

    “It will be very convenient for me because I won’t need to change to Line 1 to go to Luohu where I work,” said a woman surnamed Lin.

    Lin lives in Hongxin Garden on Qiaoxiang Road, Futian. She has to take a bus to Xiang Mi Hu Station for Metro Line 1. After the opening of Line 2, she can go to her office directly and could save about two hours every day.

    Another passenger, Wang, who lives in Jingtian in Futian District, said he would stop driving and ride the Metro after the opening of Line 2.

    “I work in Shekou and I’m often caught in traffic on the way to work and after work, and it annoys me,” he said.

    “The opening of the east-west Line 2 will greatly relieve traffic pressure in Nanshan, Futian and Luohu,” said Zhao Penglin, duty secretary general of the Shenzhen government who was responsible for the rail project.

    Passengers can change to Line 1 at Da Ju Yuan (Grand Theater) and Shi Jie Zhi Chuang (Window of the World) stations, Line 5 at Huang Bei Station, Line 3 at Futian Station and Line 4 at Shi Min Zhong Xin (Civic Center) Station.

    The first phase of Line 2, from Chi Wan Station to Shi Jie Zhi Chuang Station, opened Dec. 28.