As the May Day holiday (May 1-5) approaches, Guangzhou Metro and intercity rail services are preparing for a surge in passengers. From April 30 to May 5, the metro network will increase train frequencies, extend operating hours, and enhance crowd management to meet travel demand.

According to Guangzhou Metro, passenger traffic on April 30 is expected to exceed 11 million. To handle this high volume, the metro will add eight extra trains and shift the evening rush hour to start at 1:00 PM on several lines, including Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 21, and the Guangfo Line.

During the holiday, daily passenger flow is forecast to reach 9.3 million, partly due to the overlap with the third phase of the Canton Fair. On April 30, May 1, and May 4, Metro Lines 1, 2, 3 (including the northern extension), 5, 7, and 8 will extend service by one hour. On May 5, services on Lines 1, 3 (including the northern extension), 5, and 8 will also extend by one hour.

Notably, Lines 2 and 7, which connect to Guangzhou South Railway Station, will extend their service by two hours on May 5. During the second hour of the extension (from 12:30 AM to 1:30 AM the next day), one-way express trains will run from Guangzhou South Railway Station, allowing passengers to disembark but not board. These express trains will stop only at major stations. For instance, Line 2's express train will stop at Nanpu, Luoxi, Changgang, Gongyuanqian, Guangzhou Railway Station, Sanyuanli, Jiangxia, and Jiahewanggang. Similarly, Line 7's express train will stop at Hanxi Changlong, Yuangang, Higher Education Mega Center South, Dashadong, and Jitang.

To better serve travelers, Line 2 will begin operations 30 minutes earlier on May 1, running from Jiahewanggang towards Guangzhou South Station. Additionally, from April 30 to May 5, Line 14 will operate as a regular service rather than an express during certain hours. Lines 14 and 21 will also adjust their capacity to accommodate the returning flow of students and workers.

Photo | Guangzhou Metro