flickr: Kantaro IEMOTO
While Shanghai's metro system is among the best and most efficient in the world, it is no stranger to overcrowding, occasional delays and unsolicited staring contests. And, while most of Shanghai's metro lines are relatively reliable and well maintained (we're looking at you, Transport for London) it remains a self-evident truth that not all lines are created equal.
According to Shanghai Daily, a recent customer satisfaction survey tells that Shanghai residents favour Line 13 over all others, followed by lines 8 and 12. The survey asked thousands of participants to rank metro lines based on criteria such as the condition of trains, station cleanliness and general convenience. The favourite Line 13 is just 22 kilometres and passes through few major stations, servicing mostly the western end of the city. In contrast, Line 1 was revealed to be Shanghai's least favourite despite the fact that it links to other lines at major stations like People's Square and Xujiahui. Lines 3 and 16, two of the longest lines in the entire system, were also given low scores.
While there's little good news for the forlorn souls of Line 1, according to Kan Kan News Line 13 riders will soon have yet another reason to celebrate, with increased services planned for that line that will decrease maximum wait times between trains to just four minutes. Looks like life on Line 13 is on the up and up.
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