By the end of this year, passengers will be able to take a one hour ride on Metro line No. 4 from downtown Guangzhou to Huangge, Nansha to relax by the sea. During the trip, not only will passengers be able to enjoy traveling underground at 90 kilometers per hour, but will also be able to enjoy some metropolitan scenery as they travel on the new elevated section of track.

Starting from the east of the Science City in the north and ending at Nansha in the south, the 68.96 kilometer No. 4 line is the first metro line in Guangzhou to have an elevated track section. A new section of line from Xinzao to Huangge will be opened and six new stations at Shiqi, Haibang, Diyong, Dongyong, Guangzhou Toyota Auto City and Huangge will be built. Stations at Guanqiao and Qingsheng will also be available for use when necessary.

The open-air elevated section of the line has been designed to withstand wind, rain, thunderstorm and typhoon and lightning conductors have been installed along the track.

Showing a reporter a row of locks on the inner side of each track, the director of the project said, "A wheel protection track will be installed here to ensure the safety of train. Once off the main track, wheels will automatically come back to their normal position restrained by the protection track." Seven kilometers of protection track will be built along the No. 4 line, mainly on the sections that cross rivers and roads, and on sections with sharp turns.

The director also said that, "The elevated station will be only 80 meters long and very light." And, that passengers will either take elevators or walk up to a two or three storey high platform to take the elevated train.

Editor: Yan