City metro making it very difficult to jump on tracks

Shanghai Daily tells us that all 17 stops on the new Metro Line 4 will be equipped with "passenger safety screens." And that made Shangahaiist say, What the hell is Metro Line 4? The Shanghai Daily story doesn't tell us where Metro Line 4 is, only that it "goes into operation at the end of this year" -- and anyone who follows announcements concerning the Shanghai metro system knows that "the end of this year" usually means "the end of next year."

From this website, we learn that Metro Line 4 "will form a circle with the existing Pearl Line, link Baoshan station and Hongqiao station via Pudong on the east bank of the Huangpu River." And yes, we also learn that the project was scheduled for completion in 2004. Anyway, whenever it is completed, all stops will come equipped with an extra set of automatic doors on the subway platfrom, that open in unison with the train doors, "keeping passengers from falling -- or jumping -- onto the tracks."

The story also tells us that all Shanghai subway cars are equipped with automatic technology that eliminates the need for drivers ... "but drivers are still in place to handle emergencies." Hmmm.

In other exciting mass transportation news, the Dongfang Lu station on Metro Line 2 will close for a year starting October 20, which really, really sucks for about 30,000 commuters. The stop is being renovated because it will be a transfer hub for Lines 2, 4 and 6 (which we know nothing about).

But, of course, if you are the kind of person who finds news like this interesting, you likely aren't sitting in front of your computer. You are attending Metro China 2005, "The Premier Urban Rail Event in the Most Promising Market." Or perhaps you are at Tunnel China 2005, "The No. 1 Tunnel Event in the Biggest Tunnel Market." Or, better still, you snagged tickets for both.

Also on Shanghaiist:
Shanghai to raise subway fares