Han Ximin

WITH the opening of the five Metro lines in the past two weeks, city rail, bus and port terminals were linked by the 178-km Metro network.

The Metro service will not only provide environmentally-friendly commuting, but also promote business along the rail lines and expand the city capacity, Zhao Penglin, head of Shenzhen Rail Construction Office, said yesterday.

In such a highly populated city with a population of 14 million and 1.8 million motor vehicles, the Metro was the best choice for Shenzhen, Zhao said.

At full capacity, the Metro will transport 5 million passengers a day in the future which means more than one third of the city's population will change their commuting practice by reducing the use of cars.

The Metro lines will also promote the integration of special economic zones, socially and economically. It will also help Shenzhen to link with the rail network in Guangdong and China.

"We have built three major transport hubs on the Metro lines. Passengers can take high-speed trains to Beijing at the end of the year and Xiamen at the end of next year from Shenzhen North Railway Station. They can take trains to Hong Kong at Futian Station at the end of the 2014," Zhao said.

Of the 118 stations, 47 were in Longgang and Bao'an districts. The Huanzhong Line, which mainly runs through the two districts, will be connected with the other 11 lines in the next 10 years.

"The extensive Metro network will help improve urban management level, promote the industrial layout and reduce transport costs for businesses," Zhao said.

MTR apology for delays

Richard Han

DOZENS of passengers demanded an apology from the Metro Line 4 (Longhua Line) operator following a delay when the doors could not close at Children’s Palace Station.

This was the third time in a month there had been delays on the line.

According to a passenger surnamed Jiang, the train was stopped between Lianhua North Station and Children’s Palace Station at around 7:50 a.m. and passengers were told to wait for another train from Children’s Palace Station.

The passengers waited for about 20 minutes and some pressed emergency buttons and used inter-communication phones to demand more ventilation and cool air.

“We didn’t receive any response and some passengers became agitated,” Jiang said.

The train started 20 minutes later and arrived at Children’s Palace Station. Because the emergency buttons had to be reset manually. The train left the station another 20 minutes later.

The line operator MTR apologized for the delay yesterday. The company said the cause of the delay was that the train initiated a safety system after passengers pressed the emergency buttons.

The company has set up a team to solve the problems of screen doors after several incidents in the past month.

The company said the screen doors were sensitive to pressure from passengers and when trains were overcrowded, the doors would not be close. The company said it had solved the problem.

(News tip provider Wan Dong will be paid 50 yuan)Metro links 80% Games venues

Metro links 80% Games venues

Han Ximin

PASSENGERS with Universiade tickets will be allowed free travel on Metro trains to sports event being held between Aug. 12 and 23.

With the opening of five lines, especially the Longgang Line, the Metro network covers 80 percent of the Universiade venues.

At least 1 million people will use Metro services each day during the Universiade when police will impose controls on roads and restrict vehicles according to even or odd numbers on respective days.

Universiade Station on the Longgang line was near the Universiade Sports Center, where track and field, and cycling events will be held. Passengers can also take Shekou Line and get off at Houhai Station to see the table tennis finals at Shenzhen Bay Sports Center, where the opening ceremony will also be held. They can take Luobao Line and get off at Window of World Station to see the closing ceremony.

The city built 21 venues and renovated more than 40 old stadiums for the Universiade.