Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

A TOTAL of 26 stations on seven lines operated by Shenzhen Metro Group have seen passenger volume so heavy by Tuesday that the operator was forced to impose controls limiting ridership on trains and at stations.

The controls were imposed to prevent overcrowding during rush hours amid the coronavirus control and prevention period.

The ridership on the seven lines reached 2.19 million Tuesday, an increase of 25 percent over the previous Tuesday. Compared to ridership volume before the outbreak, ridership is now restored to 40 percent of normal.

At some stations including Gushu, Pingzhou, Wuhe, Hi-Tech Park and Shenda, ridership is now restored to 50 percent of normal.

To avoid overcrowding, the company has imposed routine controls at 11 stations that include Danzhutou, Minzhi, Changlong, Xiashuijing, Gaoxin South and Chegongmiao. Measures are also being taken at Grand Theater, Laojie, Buji, Fuyong and Houhai stations, depending on ridership volume, Shenzhen Metro Group said.

Heavy ridership volume of 40 percent of designated carriage capacity is often seen at five Metro sections during the morning rush hour between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

The sections include the Gushu-Shenda section of Line 1, the Danzhutou-Laojie section of Line 3, the Minzhi-Xili section and Changlong-Taian section of Line 5, and the Qiaotou-Houhai section of Line 11, the company said in a release, suggesting riders to maintain a safe distance from each other when inside carriages or at stations, avoid crowding, or stagger commuting hours.

Ridership peaks are often seen in the morning between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and in the evening between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., the operator said.