CRI听力： Rail Transportation to Carry More Passengers in Shanghai

China's first nationwide public transportation week has kicked off in 108 cities. In Shanghai, hundreds of locals have taken a test run on a new metro line, which is scheduled to open at the end of the year.

Let's follow our Shanghai correspondent Chen Simeng to find out more.

Reporter:

I am now at Huangxing Road subway station, one of the 22 stations on the new No. 8 metro line. Having waited patiently for six years since the start of construction, local residents in north Shanghai's Yangpu District have finally gotten a chance to test out their new neighborhood transport system, which will bring them much convenience starting from the end of the year.

Let's get on board, the train is about to leave...

As the only subway line from Yangpu District to the city centre, it will benefit at least 1.2 million Shanghainese. Although there are already five metro lines in Shanghai, residents still express much happiness for the new one.

"It's very good. It will save us lots of time and trouble. In the past, it took so much effort for me to go downtown that I would avoid it if possible. With the new line, it will be much easier, taking half the time, and I don't need to change between different buses."

"Usually, I drive to work. But it's always more time-consuming than taking the subway. So if I have to move about during rush hour, I prefer the subway.

An event to unveil Shanghai's public transportation week showcased how local authorities are boosting the cosmopolitan city's rail transportation capacities. In fact, besides line 8, the city is going to open four other new lines within the year, adding another 100 kilometers to its total rail network.

The government expects to have 33 percent of its citizens favoring public transport as their main means of getting around by 2010. Liu Min is an official at Shanghai's Public Transportation Bureau.

"First of all, we need to boost the development of rail transportation, which by 2010 is expected to hold 5 million more residents daily. Transportation in Shanghai will be built around the rail system, with easy access to nearby bus stations. Taxis will only be a supplement and we will implement more favorable fees for commuters."

Shanghai's public transportation week is set to run a series of activities aimed at raising public awareness about energy efficiency, including a car free day on Sunday, when private cars will be restricted in some downtown areas of the city.

For 'China Drive', I'm Chen Simeng