Teething problems at new subway lines

Beijing Subway Company said Saturday that they have launched a series of measures to tackle the intensive passenger flows after the opening of four new subway lines by deploying more platform staff and increasing the amount of trains.

Meanwhile, some passengers complained that the subway lines are not getting better.

Many commuters grumbled online they had to wait over 30 minutes at Shuangjing Subway Station at 7 am Friday.

One passenger, surnamed Zhang, said he gave up after he waited over 20 minutes on the overcrowded platform at Shuangjing on Friday.

"I waited for about five trains but still couldn't get on. It was so crowded and many people wouldn't line up," he said.

A subway staff member on the platform at Shuangjing on Saturday evening, surnamed Kang, confirmed there were serious delays on Friday, the first workday after holiday, following the opening of the extension to Line 10 on December 30.　

"From about 7 to 8 am, the platform was full of people. Some waited for seven trains to get on," she said.

Conditions at Jinsong Subway Station appeared better. An anonymous platform staff member said that before the new extension to Line 10 opened, Jinsong was the terminus for the line.

"So passengers always took the trains back here to get an empty seat," he said, "now around two fifths of the passengers have disappeared."

Wang Baoqiang, who works at Guomao Subway Station, said that the opening of Line 6, which runs from east to west, parallel to Line 1, has eased conditions at the interchange.

"There are fewer people on the subway today," he said.

Commuters have also criticized the new lines for confusing direction signs and the lack of cellphone signals.　

Passenger Liu Hai was puzzled by where to change onto Line 6 at Hujialou Subway Station on Saturday evening.

"The signs for the interchange are pointing up to the ceiling so I was confused whether I should go straight or go up," he said. Liu added that the new lines lessened passenger flows but it still takes him a similar length of time to get to his destination as there are a lot of stations on the new lines, making longer journey times.

An anonymous media officer from Beijing Subway Company said that they have dispatched more platform staff to smooth the passenger flows.

"We'll be able to tell how the new lines impact upon the old lines from Monday when everyone is back to work," he said, adding the new lines just opened and there are things people will need to get used to.