Liuxiandong Metro Station to undergo upgrade

A renovation will be carried out at Liuxiandong Metro Station to ease overcrowding and improve passenger experience.

Renovation work will start Jan. 23 and run through Feb. 1 and the project will expand the fare-paid concourse, install additional fare gates and add a stairway between the platform and concourse to improve passenger flow. Peak-hour throughput at the station is expected to increase by 77.8% after the upgrade, according to Shenzhen Metro.

Preparations are made at Liuxiandong Metro Station for a renovation upgrade aimed at easing congestion and improving passenger flow. Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Metro

First major upgrade since opening in 2011

Opened June 22, 2011, the Liuxiandong station has served Metro Line 5 for nearly 15 years and has become a transfer station with the recently opened northern section of Line 13.

Rapid urban development around Liuxiandong, a growing local population and increased transfer traffic have pushed the station's original capacity beyond its limits.

What’s changing at the station?

After the renovation, the station's paid concourse will be expanded by about 255 square meters and will add 10 additional fare gates and three new self-service ticketing machines, according to Shenzhen Metro.

A new stairway will be built between the platform and the concourse to ease pressure on existing access routes. Preparatory work, including the removal of ceiling panels and decorative wall panels, is already underway.

Temporary closures and schedule adjustments

During the renovation, the Liuxiandong station will operate on an adjusted schedule. The station will close at 10 p.m. Jan. 23, and remain closed to passengers Jan. 24 and 25. Line 5 trains will pass through without stopping. Exits A-D will be closed while exits E and F remain open.

Dynamic crowd-control measures will be in effect to ensure passenger safety from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1 while the central concourse and platform areas are fenced off. Normal service on Line 5 at Liuxiandong is scheduled to resume Jan. 26.

Line 13 remains unaffected

Line 13 services will not be disrupted throughout the construction period, and passengers can use Line 13 to reach the Lianxiandong area, Shenzhen Metro said.

Addressing rising passenger demand

Heavy passenger volumes during weekday rush hours place intense pressure on Liuxiandong Metro Station, highlighting the need for urgent upgrades.

Liuxiandong is a crucial transfer point between Line 13 and Line 5 and sits near Shenzhen Polytechnic University and the senior high section of Shenzhen Experimental School, as well as several leading high-tech firms such as DJI.

When the northern section of Line 13 opened in late December, passenger traffic at Lianxiandong jumped 53% during the first Monday morning peak (Dec. 29) compared with the same workday a week earlier. The sudden influx quickly overwhelmed the circulation areas, lengthened transit times and worsened the boarding experience.

Shenzhen Metro said it will continue to monitor passenger flows at Liuxiandong after the upgrade and make comprehensive assessments to ensure commuters can travel safely and smoothly.