THREE new Metro segments are expected to begin service before the end of the year, according to Shenzhen Metro Group. The segments have recently passed final inspections and met the requirements for trial operations, as per the operator. The western extension of Line 5 runs 2.88 kilometers beneath Shennan Boulevard, from Huangbeiling to Grand Theater in Luohu District, adding three stations: Hubei, Dongmen, and Grand Theater. The Grand Theater Station will allow transfers to Line 1 and Line 2. Line 5, which currently stretches from Huangbeiling in Luohu District to Chiwan in Nanshan District, links Shenzhen’s inner and outer urban rings as well as the city’s western, central, and eastern axes. It carries more than 1 million passengers a day on average. The new western extension will let riders reach major commercial hubs such as Grand Theater Station without transferring to Line 2, significantly improving travel efficiency, according to the operator. Phase III of Line 8 spans 3.7 kilometers from Xiaomeisha in Yantian District to Xichong in Dapeng New Area. The extension is expected to boost commuter links in Yantian and Dapeng and support the development of Dapeng as a world-class coastal tourism area. Once in service, Line 8 and Line 2 will form an east–west backbone connecting Nanshan, Futian, Luohu, Yantian, and Dapeng. Phase II of Line 11 extends 4.3 km from Gangxia North to Hongling South and includes three stations. A segment between the first two stations opened last year. The remaining Hongling South section — 2.3 kilometers with one station — is due to open soon, improving express-rail coverage of the Luohu CBD. By the end of 2024, Shenzhen’s Metro network had reached an operational length of 595.1 kilometers in total. (SD News) | 