Shenzhen's new subway to sell VIP seats

Shenzhen's new subway line 11 will offer VIP tickets to passengers that guarantees a seat for double the normal price, Southern Metropolis Daily reported Friday.

"We are trying to make public transportation meet a higher level of service," said Zhao Penglin, deputy secretary general of Zhenzhen municipal government, at the Shenzhen-Hongkong Subway Economic Circle Summit on July 5.

"By providing seat tickets to passengers, especially travelers from other places, a more comfortable journey can be enjoyed," Zhao said.

But some passengers remain skeptical about the VIP service.

"I will consider the VIP ticket if it is not expensive," said a Shenzhen woman surnamed Huang, "It's crowded in rush hour, making it difficult to stand without a seat from the Laojie station to the airport for 40 to 50 minutes, and I am willing to pay more for the ticket for comfort."

A worker surnamed Lin said, "I go to work by underground on weekdays, and it's a little expensive to spend double the price on a VIP ticket.".

The new line is expected to open in 2016.