Editor's note:

Shenzhen Metro will start operating Dec. 28. This is a "big thing" for both local residents and tourists who come to visit. Just imagine how comfortable it would be to travel on the brand new subway, not to mention how convenient it would be and how fast the train would run. The fare is reasonable. It costs only five yuan (US$0.6) to go from Luohu Checkpoint to the Window of the World. So it is within reach of almost everyone. Experts were not exaggerating when they said the subway system would herald "a new era" for the city's public transportation.

With the construction of 12 transit stations along Phase I of the Shenzhen Metro, people will find it easy to transfer from the metro to other means of transportation, experts say.

Phase I of the Shenzhen Metro, scheduled to start operatiing Dec. 28, will have 19 subway stations along its two lines (Line 1 and Line 4). Shenzhen Metro Line 1, which is regarded as a "golden line" by the city's advertising industry, runs from Luohu Checkpoint to the Window of the World theme park in the Overseas Chinese Town, Nanshan District. Line 4 runs from Huanggang Checkpoint to the Children's Palace.

"With the official operation of Phase I, a new era of rail transportaion will be ushered in Shenzhen," argued an expert involved in the designing of the metro system.

Other experts echoed his argument, saying the operation of Phase I of the Shenzhen Metro has provided Shenzhen with an excellent opportunity to upgrade and integrate its public transport system.

Before the construction of the 21.8-kilometer Phase I of the Shenzhen Metro, the city's planning experts had set their minds on how to integrate the metro system with a regular public transport system, an expert with the Shenzhen Municipal transportation planning research center told reporters.

"Priority must be given to public transport with the subway system as the backbone in order to maintain sustainable development of the city's transportation system. Shenzhen should spare no efforts in promoting the virtuous interation between rail transport and regular transport," the expert said.

Stations for buses, taxis and other vehicles have reportedly been constructed at all the subway stations along Phase I of Shenzhen Metro. All the vehicles will be required to leave as soon as the passengers get off to avoid traffic congestion.

To further improve the handling capacity, 12 transit stations that cover an area of 40,000 square meters (Luohu and Huanggang transit stations excluded) have been planned.

The needs of pedestrians have also been taken into account. "One of our designing principles is to set aside an area of 500-700 meters for pedestrians on the periphery of each subway station to help people enter the Metro stations as quickly as possible," an expert said.

The city's public transport system would have to be readjusted and bus stops relocated to cater for the new metro system, experts said. Ticket fees for all public transport would be standardized.

"Hopefully, all the transit stations will be ready before Phase I becomes operational," an official said.
 
Editor: Catherine