The Metro: Bridges'n'tunnels, now hiring and overheard on the train

A round-up of BBS posts on the Shanghai metro:

• People's Square concrete drying... and drying...

  Poster SanNiu British Teacakes noticed yesterday that the yellow metal floor protectors place in front of the glass safety doors on the People's Square Line 1 platform have been moved around as the floor is repaired following the safety door installation process.

• Line 7 to perform "double crossing" of Suzhou Creek

  The Metro Line 7 will perform a over-and-under double crossing of the Suzhou Creek south of the Zhenping Rd station. Line 7, a north-south line stretching from the outer Putuo District down to the World Expo site in Pudong, will cross the Suzhou Creek southbound through through a tunnel and northbound over a bridge. This is an unprecedented arrangement for the Shanghai metro system. On its journey, Line 7 will also intersect with Line 2 at Jing'an Temple and with Line 1 at Changshu Rd.

• Rumors say Line 4 to be delayed to 2008

  Rumors say that the structural engineering of ring line 4 will be complete by mid-2007, and that the installation of equipment and testing will take another full year to complete.

• Funny things overheard on the metro

  In this Chinese-language thread a fan collects funny things he has overheard on the metro, like the man who breathed a sigh of relief and muttered "I finally got a seat!" only to hear the PA announce that the train had reached its terminal station.

• Metro-riding puzzle game

  This post challenges you to a game: how many points can you rack up planning a trip where you add one point for each station visited, and subtract one point for each station visited twice, subject to the condition that you start and end the trip at the same station?

• Hiring: metro station attendants

  The metro company is hiring for positions at all the new stations that are opening up this year. Do you fit the requirements? You should "be in good health, have no criminal record, have a stable disposition, live near the new lines in Baoshan, Yangpu or Zhabei districts, speak clearly, have no chronic or genetic illnesses, have good eyesight, not be colorblind; and men should be around 1.7 meters tall, and women about 1.65 meters tall." Oh, and salary starts at RMB 1400 a month.

Finally, this is not from a BBS but it's too cool to ignore, the Shanghai Daily says that underground bus hubs [are] planned for Jing'an Temple:

The construction of the two hubs is expected to start this year at Yuyuan Road and Changde Road and will offer bus passengers easy access to Metro Line 2, the Labor Daily reported today, citing the Jing'an Metro Management Office.

That's pretty cool! Shanghaiist hopes this won't mean the end of night-buses when the stations close at the end of the day. We know that the late-night 321 to Caojiadu saved us a cab fare home more than once.

Cross-posted from the Shanghai Public Transportation weblog.