On June 30, as a long whistle sounded, a metro train slowly pulled out of Shenzhen North University Station, beginning the live-rail (hot-slide) test with the train powered up. After three speed changes, the metro train came to a steady stop at the platform of Xuefu Hospital Station, marking the successful completion of the hot-slide test for the Phase II (eastern extension) of Shenzhen Metro Line 7 and indicating that the project now meets the conditions for train dynamic commissioning.

According to reports, the Phase II (eastern extension) of Shenzhen Metro Line 7 is located within Nanshan District, with a total length of approximately 2.675 kilometers, fully underground, and comprises two stations: Xuefu Hospital Station and Beida (Peking University) Station. At present, Phase II of Line 7 is being accelerated; the progress of decoration, installation and equipment commissioning across the line is as follows: at Beida Station, decoration is 90% complete and installation 86% complete; at Xuefu Hospital Station, decoration is 72% complete and installation 74% complete.

What is a hot-slide test?

During the hot-slide test, the metro train runs back and forth along the section at low, medium and high speeds (20 km/h, 40 km/h and 60-80 km/h respectively), comprehensively testing the power supply system, catenary, track, platform screen doors, turnouts, communication system, clearance and vehicle running stability, so as to ensure that the interfaces between the vehicle and the catenary system and between the vehicle and the track system meet the conditions for train operation.