Three new Metro sections slated to open Oct. 28

Three new Metro sections are scheduled to open Oct. 28, according to the operator Shenzhen Metro Group. They are: Phase I of Line 8, Phase III of Line 2 and the southern extension of Line 3 — which will reach Yantian District, Liantang Checkpoint in Luohu District and Futian Bonded Zone in Futian District, respectively.

During a call-in radio program Tuesday, Xin Jie, chairman with Shenzhen Metro Group, said the opening of the three sections will bring the total length of the city’s subway network to 411 kilometers.

“The three sections have passed firefighting checks and put on trial tests,” said Xin.

The 3.9-kilometer Phase III of Line 2 runs from Xinxiu Station to Liantang Station in Luohu District, and is crucial for the development of the eastern side of the city because it connects Liantang Checkpoint, the seventh land border crossing facility of Shenzhen with Hong Kong.

From Liantang Station, the line is further extended to connect with Phase I of Line 8 that starts at Wutong Mountain South Station and ends at Yantian Road Station in Yantian District.

Phase II of Line 8, an anticipated section that will reach the scenic beaches in Dameisha and Xiaomeisha, is under construction.

The southern extension of Line 3 runs 1.5 kilometers from Yitian Station to Futian Bonded Zone.

In the coming years, Shenzhen will construct at least 200 kilometers of Metro lines a year, according to Xin.

In 2021, Phase I of Line 20 is slated to be put into operation, linking the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport with the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center in Bao’an District.

In 2023, the city will open 149 kilometers of new Metro lines. Its total length of line in the Metro network will reach 647 kilometers by 2025 and 1,335 kilometers by 2035.

According to Xin, Shenzhen will boast a 1,000-kilometer Metro rail connecting with 1,000-kilometer high-speed railways and intercity rails by 2030.

The State has recently approved the construction of five intercity railways from Shenzhen to other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which will be 343 kilometers in total length.

Construction on the section from the Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport to Qianhai, part of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen Intercity Railway, kicked off in June.

Work on five more railways, namely Shenzhen-Shenshan High-speed Railway, Shenzhen-Huizhou Intercity Railway, Shenzhen-Daya Bay rail, Longgang-Dapeng supur line, and the Qianhai-Huanggang Checkpoint section of the Guangzhou-Dongguan-Shenzhen will start at the end of the year, according to Xin.