A busy Shanghai Metro train sets off on a run. [Photo/WeChat account: shanghaifabu]

The Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission has reported a surge in ridership on the city's metro system during the second quarter of 2024, topping levels posted for the same period last year.

Average daily commuting volumes leaped to 10.58 million passengers in the second quarter, marking a substantial 9.5 percent increase from the first quarter and a welcome 2.9 percent rise year-on-year.

The weekday volume averaged at 11.91 million passengers, showing a 2.5 percent increase from 2023, while weekend volume reached 7.72 million passengers, up by 4 percent from the previous year.

Among the metro lines, Lines 2, 1, and 9 retained their positions as the most popular choices for commuters, while Lines 14 and 15 experienced significant increases in their rides, rising by 12.5 percent and 9 percent, respectively, compared with the same period last year.

However, despite longer operating hours, Lines 11 and 16 encountered congestion issues during the peak hours.

Nighttime metro riders also witnessed a surge, with entries and exits between 8 pm and midnight showing an increase compared with the same period in 2023, except for a slight dip on Fridays and pre-holiday weekdays.

Weekend nights notably accounted for 13.26 percent of total rides, with a significant spike observed between 10 pm and midnight.

Stations situated near popular tourist attractions and shopping hubs experienced consistent growth in their nighttime passenger totals, while major stations in core areas saw a rise driven by shopping and entertainment activities. The Oriental Sports Center station most notably recorded a substantial 22.5 percent increase in nighttime rides on weekends compared with weekdays, due to events in the vicinity.

During major holidays such as Qingming Festival, May Day, and the Dragon Boat Festival, metro rides generally surged compared with 2023.

Stations close to popular tourist spots witnessed high passenger volumes, with extended metro operations playing a pivotal role in managing late-night passenger influxes during the May Day holiday.

Hosting of the 2024 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix in the city reportedly resulted in a remarkable 57.8 percent increase in daily entries and exits at the Shanghai Circuit station compared with that in 2019.

Major events at the Shanghai Stadium were also key drivers of high traffic during the second quarter, with concerts contributing to the uptick in rides. In particular, the Pudong Football Stadium station experienced a sevenfold increase in passengers on April 27 due to a football match.

The Dishui Lake fireworks show on May 31 attracted a multitude of residents and tourists, leading to a surge in rides, with the volume of passengers between 6 pm and 7 pm increasing sixfold compared with the same period last year.

Source: "shanghaifabu" WeChat account