Line 14 cuts Futian-Pingshan trip to 40 mins

A fully automated Metro Line 14 train arrived at Gangxia North Station in Futian District at 10:58 a.m. today, marking the official operation of the city’s first line to Pingshan District, and the inauguration of three major transport hubs along the route.

A single trip between Futian CBD and Pingshan District has been reduced to 40 minutes after the subway line began service. The 50-km route runs through Pingshan, Longgang, Luohu and Futian districts and has 18 stations including nine transfer stations connecting to Lines 2, 3, 5, 7 and 11.

Residents line up at the entrance to the Metro Line 14 platform at Gangxia North Station for the maiden ride on the fully automated subway line Friday morning. Photos by Sun Yuchen

The trains will operate at internals of 5 minutes and 25 seconds during rush hours on workdays and 6 minutes and 15 seconds during off-peak periods, according to Shenzhen Metro Group, the operator.

The operator estimates the daily passenger turnover will reach 320,000 during workdays after six months of operation.

Even an hour before the initial operation of the line, some passengers who transferred from Lines 2 and 10 were waiting at the entrances to the Line 14 platform at the Gangxia North Comprehensive Transport Hub for the first rides.

A resident surnamed Huang chose to take the Metro ride to Silian in Longgang District for his business because it could save about 1 hour as compared with a bus ride. The other resident, identified as Zhang, who owns an apartment in Danshui, Huizhou, said that Line 14 reduces much time and effort for his trip to Huizhou. He could take the Metro to Shatian and then change to a bus for another two stops to Danshui.

Some people came in groups for the rides. A woman surnamed Li who has bought an apartment in Pingshan organized a one-day tour to Pingshan for her friends.

“Pingshan has rich cultural heritage, natural resources and good quality of air. With the opening of the route, more people will learn about the district,” Li said. In the coming month, she plans to organize a visit for her friends to Dawan Ancestral Residence, Pingshan Art Museum, Maluan Mountain and the parks.

A resident takes a selfie after exiting the terminus station of Shatian in Pingshan District.

Separately, the extension of Line 11 between Futian Station and Gangxia North Station was also put into operation this morning. The operation of the two lines brought the city’s Metro network in service to 471 kilometers.

Three transport hubs, i.e. Gangxia North Transit Hub, Huangmugang Transit Hub and Universiade Transit Hub, were also put into operation along with the two lines.

The Gangxia North Transit Hub offers transfers among Lines 2, 10 and 14. The Huangmugang Transit Hub offers transfers of Lines 7 and 14, and the future Line 24. The Universiade Transit Hub integrates three Metro lines — Lines 3, 14 and 16 — and the future intercity rail of Line 33, an 86-kilometer rail running between the Shenzhen airport and Daya Bay. This is the only transport hub in the city’s east where four lines meet and will enhance the connectivity of the eastern area of Shenzhen with Futian CBD and the airport in Bao’an in the west, as well as Daya Bay in the city of Huizhou, according to Shenzhen Metro Group.

In addition to Line 14, Line 12, Line 16 and the spur line of Line 6 will be put into operation before the end of this year, bringing the total length of the city Metro network to 547 kilometers.