Wooooo.....

The central loop line of the Beijing subway system has new trains today.

They are really quite snazzy..... although the folly of the decision to have uphostered seats was starting to become apparent after only 5 hours in service. Ah, this is China.

PS I'm not sure if this is somehow related to the introduction of the new rolling stock, but there have been a number of interruptions to the service this weekend. The short hop I've been having to make down to Xuanwumen should only take about 16 minutes, but has three times taken me more like half an hour. Today I decided to come back the wrong way around the loop, 1.5 times as far, thinking it might prove to be quicker - and it was. Things are always a little dodgy on the weekends, and some delays at the Xizhimen and Jishuitan stations (where trains are taken in and out of service and drivers changed over) are routine; but double the stated journey time - that's PFU!