A dangerous malfunction

Residents in Shanghai including those trapped in the metropolis subway tunnels on Tuesday have the right to know what really happened to the subway system.

A subway line was paralyzed for seven hours and passengers were trapped in the subway tunnel for more than two, excruciating hours on a workday. Many more were affected by the delays. In addition, three unrelated accidents happened in the city's subway on the same day. Paralysis of this important mode of transport in Shanghai could very well bring the crowded municipality to a standstill.

That passengers have to wait inside the tunnel for more than two hours without knowing what had happened until they were rescued reveals a lapse in the subway system's contingency plan. This is compounded by the fact that two hours after the snag, citizens were not informed of such malfunction. Many were caught surprised when they arrived at packed subway stations.